Intrinsic structural design of graphite anodes for fast-charging lithium-ion batteries: strategies, trade-offs, and perspectives

With the increasing demand for rapid energy replenishment in electric vehicles and portable electronics, fast-charging lithium-ion batteries require graphite anodes with improved Li + transport kinetics while maintaining high energy density and long-term stability. Graphite remains the dominant commercial anode material, but its layered structure leads to anisotropic Li + diffusion, limited edge-plane intercalation sites, concentration polarization, and lithium plating risk under high-rate charging. This mini-review focuses specifically on intrinsic structural design of graphite anodes, rather than electrolyte, artificial SEI, or charging-protocol optimization. Interlayer spacing regulation, porous structure construction, particle size/morphology optimization, and defect/edge-site engineering are summarized within a structure–kinetics–trade-off framework. These strategies can shorten Li + diffusion pathways, increase effective Li + entry sites, reduce polarization, and improve high-rate capacity utilization. However, they may also increase specific surface area, reduce initial Coulombic efficiency, decrease compaction density, and impair structural stability. Finally, practical evaluation criteria, including full-cell validation, high areal loading, high compaction density, limited lithium inventory, and lithium plating diagnosis, are discussed to guide future intrinsic graphite design for practical fast-charging batteries.