From Mill to Battery: Unlocking the Role of Particle Morphology of Natural Graphite in LIB Anode Materials

As the world searches for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources, energy storage is the most promising solution to current energy systems. Improving material performance, reducing environmental impact, and increasing energy efficiency are among the most pressing challenges in the energy storage field. In this context, increasing the energy density and performance of Lithium-Ion Battery (LIB) electrodes depends largely on electrode improvements. One of the key components that has paved the way for the LIB success story over the last 30 years has been the development of graphite-based anodes. Therefore, this review aims to understand the physical properties of the graphite anode material for LIBs, including its density, size, and shape. The starting point for anode improvements with tremendous industrial growth potential is the use of graphite with excellent structural quality and purity, as well as the ideal particle size and optimal morphology for effective lithium-ion intercalation chemistry. It can be concluded that graphite anodes with improved properties (safety performance, longer cycle life, lower first-cycle irreversible capacitance loss, and higher speed capacity and energy density) can be produced by optimising the morphology.