The present invention provides an energy storage device comprising a cathode region or other element. The device has a major active region comprising a plurality of first active regions spatially disposed within the cathode region. The major active region expands or contracts from a first volume to a second volume during a period of a charge and discharge. The device has a catholyte material spatially confined within a spatial region of the cathode region and spatially disposed within spatial regions not occupied by the first active regions. The device has a protective material formed overlying exposed regions of the cathode material to substantially maintain the sulfur species within the catholyte material. Also included is a novel dopant configuration of the Li.sub.aMP.sub.bS.sub.c (LMPS) [M=Si, Ge, and/or Sn] containing material.

A negative active material includes a silicon-based alloy, and the silicon-based alloy includes a Si single phase, a FeSi.sub.2 alpha phase, and a FeSi.sub.2 beta phase, wherein an intensity ratio of a second diffraction peak of the FeSi.sub.2 beta phase to a first diffraction peak of the FeSi.sub.2 alpha phase may be 0.1 or higher. A negative electrode includes the negative active material and a lithium battery includes the negative electrode. Lifespan characteristics of the lithium battery including the negative active material may improve.

The invention provides a method for the processing of finely divided solids during the production of chlorosilanes, which is characterized in that the finely divided solids are hydraulically pressed to give bodies of increased density. Moreover, also provided is the compact obtained by the process according to the invention which is characterized by a filling factor of the finely divided solids to be hydraulically pressed of 3.9 to 4.5.

The invention provides a method for the processing of finely divided solids during the production of chlorosilanes, which is characterized in that the finely divided solids are hydraulically pressed to give bodies of increased density. Moreover, also provided is the compact obtained by the process according to the invention which is characterized by a filling factor of the finely divided solids to be hydraulically pressed of 3.9 to 4.5.

A simple method for making low surface area alloy particles with high silicon content has been discovered. The method involves two ball milling steps in which silicon containing precursor particles undergo a first milling to render the elemental silicon present to have an average grain size less than 20 nm, followed by a second milling with incorporated binding metal particles (e.g. certain transition metals) that serve to bind the first milled particles together. Done appropriately, the two milling step method results in alloy particles with high silicon content and have relatively low surface area and large particle size. As such, the particles are desirable for use in anode electrodes in rechargeable lithium batteries.

Thermoset ceramic compositions and a method of preparation of such compositions. The compositions are advanced organic/inorganic hybrid composite polymer ceramic alloys. The material combine strength, hardness and high temperature performance of technical ceramics with the strength, ductility, thermal shock resistance, density, and easy processing of the polymer. Consisting of a branched backbone of silicon, alumina, and carbon, the material undergoes sintering at 7 to 300 centigrade for 2 to 94 hours from water at a pH between 0 to 14, humidity of 0 to 100%, with or without vaporous solvents.

The present invention discloses glycoxy silanes as a source of silica and silica precipitated by advantageous chemical reactions preferably beginning with biogenic silica. Alkoxy COS.sub.1 are hydrolyzed in a controlled fashion to nucleate formation of nanoparticles of silica. The growth rate of the particles is controlled by various parameters such that particles of known sizes, size distributions, specific surface areas and pore sizes and size distributions are recovered.

A silicon carbon composite, a negative electrode active material, a negative electrode composition, a negative electrode, a lithium secondary battery, a battery module, and a battery pack are provided. The silicon carbon composite satisfies a condition of 1.3((B+C)/A)<4, wherein A is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 20 ppm to 15 ppm in a .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum, B is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 20 ppm to 100 ppm in the .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum; and C is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 110 ppm to 140 ppm in the .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum.

A silicon carbon composite, a negative electrode active material, a negative electrode composition, a negative electrode, a lithium secondary battery, a battery module, and a battery pack are provided. The silicon carbon composite satisfies a condition of 1.3((B+C)/A)<4, wherein A is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 20 ppm to 15 ppm in a .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum, B is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 20 ppm to 100 ppm in the .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum; and C is an intensity of a peak having a chemical shift value in the range of 110 ppm to 140 ppm in the .sup.29Si-MAS-NMR spectrum.

The present invention provides an energy storage device comprising a cathode region having an active region which expands or contracts from a first volume to a second volume during a period of a charge and discharge. The device has a a solid state catholyte material which includes lithium, phosphorus, sulfur, and silicon elements. The device has a protective material formed overlying exposed regions of the cathode material to substantially maintain the sulfur species within the catholyte material. Also included is a novel oxygen doped configuration of Li.sub.aSiP.sub.bS.sub.c containing material.