High-Performance Lithium Storage: Assessing the Viability of Graphene Anodes Beyond Graphite

Abstract

As people want higher energy storage and faster charging in electric vehicles, grid storage and gadgets, the restricted capacity of graphite-based anodes in LIBs is a rising barrier. While these alternatives can store a lot of energy theoretically, the big swelling they show when cycled makes them less useful and even harm their durability. Single layer graphene, made of carbon and sp² connections, is seen by many as an excellent middle option. This piece talks about how graphene anodes can be used instead of graphite, explaining their several unique features: excellent electronic conductivity (~10⁶ S m⁻¹), robustness (Young’s modulus ~1 TPa), large surface area (~2 600 m² gram⁻¹) and ability to be modified through doping and functionalization. With recent electrochemical benchmarks, this study offers a comparison between current and new types of anode materials. Research using graphene materials such as reduced graphene oxide (rGO) slurries, CVD-grown foams and nitrogen-doped films, has shown very high reversibility, displaying capacities of nearly 600 mAh gram and provides ≥95% initial coulombic efficiency and good cycling ability. Additionally, we propose a three-level technology-readiness-level (TRL) development path, listing which synthesis processes, measurement tests and scale-up methods are suitable for modern LIBs. Such evidence supports the need for graphene anodes to be tested shortly in labs for their strength and ability to address the problem between graphite and silicon for next-generation lithium storage.