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

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 Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 layer. The uniform decoration on graphite is attained by covalent functionalization of the surface with polydopamine before Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 decoration. The zero‐strain spinel Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 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.