Graphite-based lithium ion battery with ultrafast charging and discharging and excellent low temperature performance

Lithium-ion (Li⁺) batteries are widely used in portable electronics and vehicles. However, fast charging and discharging at room temperature and charging at subzero temperature are still great challenges. Graphite is presently the most common anode material for lithium-ion batteries, but the long diffusion distance of Li⁺ limits its rate performance. Herein, to shorten the diffusion path, we develop a favorable electrode consisting of thin graphite sheets with through-holes and carbon nanotube. The carbon nanotube can effectively prevent the restack of graphite sheets. Combining with low desolvation energy electrolyte, which facilitates Li⁺ transport through electrode/electrolyte interface, the fabricated battery exhibits not only an excellent rate performance (almost be fully charged and discharged at 8 C-rate) at room temperature but also an improved low-temperature performance. These findings pave a way for the design of robust graphite-based lithium-ion batteries with high performance at both room and low temperatures.