Interfacial Engineering with Lithium Titanate on MCMB Anode for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

The graphite anode has been described as the unsung hero in battery chemistry since the birth of lithium-ion batteries. Despite its significance, there are specific limitations inherent in the graphite anode, such as an unstable solid electrode interphase layer, low Li⁺ diffusion, and defective structural change, which limit the overall rate performance of lithium-ion batteries. Hence, at this juncture, we design to decorate the graphitic surface with a Li⁺ permeable lithophilic Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ layer. The uniform decoration on graphite is attained by covalent functionalization of the surface with polydopamine before Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ decoration. The zero-strain spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ layer serves to avert structural collapse and volume expansion of the MCMB (Mesocarbon microbeads) anode without compromising graphite's performance. The electrochemical studies of the modified sample exhibit a significantly faster lithium diffusion compared to pristine MCMB and deliver a reversible capacity of 339 mAh g⁻¹ at 1 C. In practice, the full-cell performance of the MCMB@LTO modified was shown to have superior cyclic stability over 200 cycles. Hence, this work provides insight into the structural integrity of the graphite anode by interface engineering for Li-ion batteries.

Keywords

lithium plating / lithium titanate / lithium-ion batteries / MCMB / surface modification

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2025 The Author(s). Energy & Environmental Materials published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Zhengzhou University.