A lithium ion battery including an electrolyte and a lithium titanate negative electrode is provided. The lithium titanate negative electrode includes structures of a lithium titanate core and a conformal layer surrounding each lithium titanate core. The conformal layer either includes titanium oxide with substantially no lithium or has a concentration of lithium ranging from a lower concentration at a surface portion of the layer to a higher concentration at an interior portion of the layer adjacent to the lithium titanate core. A method of preparing the lithium titanate structures and a method of preparing an electrode for a lithium ion battery, wherein the electrode includes lithium titanate structures, are also provided.