A method for forming a crystalline material having an anisotropic, quasi-one-dimensional crystal structure is disclosed. In various embodiments, the method includes: mixing a plurality of precursor materials together to form a combined precursor material, the plurality of precursor materials including a transition-metal ion or a main group ion and at least one of an alkaline earth ion or an alkali metal ion; and reacting the combined precursor material to obtain the crystalline material, the crystalline material having a formula ABX3, wherein A is the at least one of the alkaline earth ion or the alkali metal ion and B is the transition-metal ion surrounded by six anions (X), and wherein the quasi-one-dimensional anisotropic crystal provides a birefringence of at least 0.03, defined as the absolute difference in the real part of the complex-refractive-index values along different crystal axes, in at least a portion of one or N both of the visible-wave spectrum or the infrared spectrum.

An amorphous silicon-carbon composite, a method for preparing the amorphous silicon-carbon composite using a pyrolysis method, a negative electrode for a lithium secondary battery, and a lithium secondary battery including the same.

The present invention relates to a reduced-graphene-oxide/silicon-metal-particle composite, a method of manufacturing the composite and an electrode for a secondary battery including the composite. The method of manufacturing the reduced-graphene-oxide/silicon-metal-particle composite includes preparing a reduced-graphene-oxide dispersion solution by reducing graphene oxide formed through cation-pi interaction, preparing a reduced-graphene-oxide/silicon-metal-particle dispersion solution by mixing the reduced-graphene-oxide dispersion solution with silicon metal particles, and manufacturing a composite powder having a core-shell structure by drying the reduced-graphene-oxide/silicon-metal-particle dispersion solution. Thereby, reduced graphene oxide can be formed using the graphene oxide dispersion solution having few defects and high purity obtained through cation-pi interaction, and dried to afford a composite powder having a core-shell structure, which is applicable to an electrode for a secondary battery.

A submicron sized Si based powder having an average primary particle size between 20 nm and 200 nm, wherein the powder has a surface layer comprising SiO.sub.x, with 0<x<2, the surface layer having an average thickness between 0.5 nm and 10 nm, and wherein the powder has a total oxygen content equal or less than 3% by weight at room temperature. The method for making the powder comprises a step where a Si precursor is vaporized in a gas stream at high temperature, after which the gas stream is quenched to obtain Si particles, and the Si particles are quenched at low temperature in an oxygen containing gas.

A submicron sized Si based powder having an average primary particle size between 20 nm and 200 nm, wherein the powder has a surface layer comprising SiO.sub.x, with 0<x<2, the surface layer having an average thickness between 0.5 nm and 10 nm, and wherein the powder has a total oxygen content equal or less than 3% by weight at room temperature. The method for making the powder comprises a step where a Si precursor is vaporized in a gas stream at high temperature, after which the gas stream is quenched to obtain Si particles, and the Si particles are quenched at low temperature in an oxygen containing gas.

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. In an example, the catholyte material comprises a lithium, germanium, phosphorous, and sulfur (LGPS) containing material configured in a polycrystalline state. The device has an oxygen species configured within the LGPS containing material, the oxygen species having a ratio to the sulfur species of 1:2 and less to form a LGPSO material. 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.

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. In an example, the catholyte material comprises a lithium, germanium, phosphorous, and sulfur (LGPS) containing material configured in a polycrystalline state. The device has an oxygen species configured within the LGPS containing material, the oxygen species having a ratio to the sulfur species of 1:2 and less to form a LGPSO material. 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 porous silicon composition, a porous alloy composition, or a porous silicon containing cermet composition, as defined herein. A method of making: the porous silicon composition; the porous alloy composition, or the porous silicon containing cermet composition, as defined herein. Also disclosed is an electrode, and an energy storage device incorporating the electrode and at least one of the disclosed compositions, as defined herein.

Provided is a process for producing prelithiated particles of an anode active material for a lithium battery. The process comprises: (a) providing a lithiating chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; (b) feeding a plurality of particles of an anode active material, lithium metal particles, and an electrolyte solution (containing a lithium salt dissolved in a liquid solvent) into the lithiating chamber through at least one inlet, concurrently or sequentially, to form a reacting mixture; (c) moving this reacting mixture toward the outlet at a rate sufficient for inserting a desired amount of lithium into the anode active material particles to form a slurry of prelithiated particles dispersed in the electrolyte solution; and (d) discharging the slurry out of the lithiating chamber through the at least one outlet.

Provided is a process for producing prelithiated particles of an anode active material for a lithium battery. The process comprises: (a) providing a lithiating chamber having at least one inlet and at least one outlet; (b) feeding a plurality of particles of an anode active material, lithium metal particles, and an electrolyte solution (containing a lithium salt dissolved in a liquid solvent) into the lithiating chamber through at least one inlet, concurrently or sequentially, to form a reacting mixture; (c) moving this reacting mixture toward the outlet at a rate sufficient for inserting a desired amount of lithium into the anode active material particles to form a slurry of prelithiated particles dispersed in the electrolyte solution; and (d) discharging the slurry out of the lithiating chamber through the at least one outlet.