Al ₂ O ₃ ‐Catalyzed Graphitization Constructing Flake‐Arrayed Graphite With Abundant Li ⁺ Diffusion Pathways for Fast‐Charging LIBs

ABSTRACT The increasing demand for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries accelerates the development of advanced anodes that combine high energy density and fast‐charging capabilities. This work presents a novel Al 2 O 3 ‐assisted non‐transition‐metal catalytic strategy to synthesize high‐performance artificial graphite from petroleum coke. Notably, this strategy achieves an exceptional graphitization degree of 92.3% at a relatively low temperature of 2600°C, significantly reducing energy consumption. During graphitization, Al 2 O 3 initially transforms into the intermediate carbide Al 4 C 3 , then decomposes at elevated temperatures to catalyze the rearrangement of liberated active carbon atoms into highly ordered graphitic microcrystals. This process induces the formation of a unique flake‐arrayed structure with abundant pathways for Li + intercalation and diffusion, significantly enhancing the electrochemical performance. Consequently, the prepared graphite (PAG‐2600) delivers a reversible capacity of 353.3 mAh g −1 at 0.1 C. At a high rate of 3 C, it retains 252.0 mAh g −1 (72.1% retention) and demonstrates superior cycling stability, preserving 86.6% capacity after 500 cycles. Furthermore, the LiFePO 4 //PAG‐2600 full cell achieves a remarkable energy density of 209.3 Wh kg −1 at a power density of 1793.7 W kg −1 , demonstrating practical fast‐charging potential. This study highlights catalytic graphitization as an energy‐efficient strategy to enhance the high‐rate performance of graphite anodes for next‐generation lithium‐ion batteries.