US Patent 7674555 Electrode material, and production method and use thereof

An electrode material comprising a particle containing at least one member selected from the particles containing silicon, tin, silicon compound and tin compound, and fibrous carbon. The particle includes: (1) a particle comprising at least one member of a silicon particle, tin particle, particle containing a lithium-ion-intercalatable/releasable silicon compound and particle containing a lithium-ion-intercalatable/releasable tin compound; or (2) a particle comprising a silicon and/or silicon compound-containing carbonaceous material deposited onto at least a portion of the surfaces of a carbon particle having a graphite structure. The lithium secondary battery using the electrode material as a negative electrode has high discharging capacity and is excellent in cycle characteristics and characteristics under a load of large current.