A lithium ion battery includes an electrolyte maintained in a separator, the separator having two sides; a negative electrode of lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12) disposed on one side of the separator; a negative current collector associated with the negative electrode; a positive electrode disposed on an opposite side of the separator; and a positive current collector associated with the positive electrode. The lithium ion battery further includes gas traps to trap gases in the battery, wherein the gas traps include titanium diboride (TiB2) nanotubes. A method includes providing the titanium diboride nanotubes, carbon nanotubes, carbon fibers, and/or graphene as gas traps in a lithium ion battery having a negative electrode of lithium titanate.