Patent attributes
Methods, anode material particles, mixtures, anodes and lithium-ion batteries are provided, having passivated silicon-based particles that enable processing in oxidizing environments such as water-based slurries. Methods comprise forming a mixture of silicon particles with nanoparticles (NPs) and a carbon-based binders and/or surfactants, wherein the NPs comprise at least one of: metalloid oxide NPs, metalloid salt NPs and carbon NPs, reducing the mixture to yield a reduced mixture comprising coated silicon particles with a coating providing a passivation layer (possibly amorphous), and consolidating the reduced mixture to form an anode. It is suggested that the NPs provide nucleation sites for the passivation layer on the surface of the silicon particles—enabling significant anode-formation process simplifications such as using water-based slurries—enabled by disclosed methods and anode active material particles.
