The accelerating demand for efficient and high-performance energy storage solutions has positioned lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries at the forefront of technological innovation. While the rapid structural evolution of high-capacity anode materials has historically outpaced electrolyte development, it is increasingly evident that their practical deployment is fundamentally constrained by electrode-electrolyte coupling. This review provides a progressive perspective on the synergistic codesign of advanced anodes and compatible electrolytes. We systematically trace the evolution of anode materials, from carbon-based frameworks to alloy and conversion-based electrodes, highlighting how their distinct physicochemical limitations necessitate tailored electrolyte solutions. Building upon this foundation, lithium and sodium metal anodes are positioned as the central focus to comprehensively showcase advanced electrolyte engineering. Detailed discussions elucidate how tailored liquid and solid-state electrolyte formulations, through solvation regulation and the construction of robust solid electrolyte interphases (SEI), effectively resolve the extreme interfacial bottlenecks of metal anodes. Ultimately, current technological hurdles are outlined, emphasizing that the rational codesign of electrodes and compatible electrolytes remains the definitive pathway for actualizing next-generation high-energy battery systems.
Tian et al. (2026) studied this question.