Enhanced Kinetics and Dual‐Interfacial Stability in High‐Areal‐Loading Electrodes for Lithium Metal Batteries via Crosstalk‐Active Polymer‐Functionalized Carbon Nanotubes (Adv. Mater. 24/2026)

High-Areal-Loading Electrodes for Lithium Metal Batteries In their Research Article (DOI: 10.1002/adma.202516395), Soojin Park, Jeong Woo Han, and co-workers demonstrate that polymer-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with sulfonic acid groups enable simultaneous stabilization of thick cathodes and lithium metal anodes in high-energy-density lithium metal batteries. The grafted poly(2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid) (PAMPS) promotes uniform CNT dispersion and accelerates Li+ transport within high-areal-loading electrodes, while dynamic cathode-anode crosstalk generates sulfur-containing intermediates that form robust, inorganic-rich interphases. Consequently, these coupled kinetic and interfacial effects suppress dendrite growth, reduce interfacial resistance, and sustain fast charge transport even under high voltage and ultrahigh mass loading.