Muhammad Awais MughalTauseef AnwarReza BehmadiHamed RahimiNayab MughalMehak SajawalPeizhong FengYezeng HeAkbar Hojjati-Najafabadi2026-02-092026-02-092026-03https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2025.120103Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have emerged as a leading energy storage technology, powering everything from portable electronics to electric vehicles due to their high energy density, long cycle life, and low maintenance requirements. Growing demand for high-energy applications has exposed limitations in conventional electrode materials, driving the search for alternatives that offer higher capacity, better stability, and lower costs. Among these, binary transition metal oxides (BMOs) has gained significant attention as a promising anode material because of its excellent safety, non-toxicity, natural abundance, and environmental compatibility. Despite these advantages, BMOs suffers from inherently low electrical conductivity, which restricts electron transport and leads to poor rate performance—a major barrier to its widespread adoption in commercial batteries. To address these challenges, researchers have developed innovative strategies, such as combining BMOs with conductive additives like carbon or graphene to enhance electron transfer, engineering nanostructured morphologies to shorten ion diffusion pathways, and designing hybrid composites that leverage the strengths of multiple materials. Notably, graphene-based modifications have proven particularly effective, as graphene's exceptional conductivity, mechanical flexibility, and large surface area not only improve charge transfer but also mitigate volume expansion during cycling. These advances have significantly boosted the electrochemical performance of the BMO based-anode material, enabling higher capacities and longer lifespans. This review examines the progress in optimizing BMOs with a focus on graphene-enhanced composites that push the boundaries of rate capability and cycling stability. By analyzing recent breakthroughs and remaining obstacles, we highlight the path forward for developing next-generation LIBs that meet the escalating demands of modern energy storage.enBattery anode materialsBMO-graphene based nano compositesEnhance electrochemical performancesModern energy storageNext generation LIBs (Li-ion battery)journal-article