Scalable synthesis of spherical graphite/ZnO composite anodes for high-performance lithium-ion batteries

Reimagining graphite anodes through hybrid nano-architectures offers a powerful route to break the long-standing trade-off between capacity and stability in lithium-ion batteries. Here, we design a porous spherical graphite/ZnO (SG/ZnO) hybrid anode via a scalable one-pot hydrothermal synthesis combined with high-energy ball milling and mild annealing. The resulting hierarchical framework features robust SG-ZnO interfacial coupling, merging the conductivity and structural resilience of spherical graphite with the high capacity and surface reactivity of ZnO nanosheets. This architecture ensures efficient Li⁺ transport, accommodates volume changes, and suppresses mechanical degradation. The optimized SG/ZnO composite (SG-7/ZnO) delivers a reversible capacity of 423 mAh g^-1 at 160 mAh g^-1 over 150 cycles, significantly outperforming pristine SG and ZnO, owing to its excellent charge transport capability and enhanced electrochemical kinetics. This simple yet versatile strategy opens a new pathway for engineering high-performance oxide-carbon hybrids for next-generation rechargeable batteries.