Mechanically fluidized systems and processes allow for efficient, cost-effective production of silicon coated particles having very low levels of contaminants such as metals and oxygen. These silicon coated particles are produced, conveyed, and formed into crystals in an environment maintained at a low oxygen level or a very low oxygen level and a low contaminant level or very low contaminant level to minimize the formation of silicon oxides and minimize the deposition of contaminants on the coated particles. Such high purity coated silicon particles may not require classification and may be used in whole or in part in the crystal production method. The crystal production method and the resultant high quality of the silicon boules produced are improved by the reduction or elimination of the silicon oxide layer and contaminants on the coated particles.

A negative electrode material for a lithium-ion secondary battery containing a composite (C) that contains a porous carbon (A) and a Si-containing compound (B). The porous carbon (A) satisfies V.sub.1/V.sub.0>0.80 and V.sub.2/V.sub.0<0.10. When a total pore volume at the maximum value of a relative pressure P/P.sub.0 is defined as V.sub.0 and P.sub.0 is a saturated vapor pressure, a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=0.1 is defined as V.sub.1, and a cumulative pore volume at a relative pressure P/P.sub.0=10.sup.−7 is defined as V.sub.2 in a nitrogen adsorption test. Further, the porous carbon (A) has a BET specific surface area of 800 m.sup.2/g or more, and the Si-containing compound (B) is contained in pores of the porous carbon (A). Also disclosed is a negative electrode sheet including the negative electrode material and a lithium-ion secondary battery including the negative electrode sheet.

An electrode includes an electrically conductive porous graphene core; a silicon layer disposed on an internal surface of the porous graphene core; and an ion-conductive hybrid silicate layer disposed on the silicon layer.

Hollow bodies having a silicon-comprising shell, are produced by, in a gas comprising at least one silane of the general formula Si.sub.nH.sub.2n+2−mX.sub.m with n=1 to 4, m=0 to 2n+2 and X=halogen, (a) generating a non-thermal plasma by an AC voltage of frequency f, or operating a light arc, or introducing electromagnetic energy in the infrared region into the gas, giving a resulting phase which (b) is dispersed in a wetting agent and distilled, and then (c) the distillate is contacted at least once with a mixture of at least two of the substances hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, water, giving a solid residue comprising hollow bodies having a silicon-comprising shell after the conversion reaction of the distillate with the mixture has abated or ended.

Hollow bodies having a silicon-comprising shell, are produced by, in a gas comprising at least one silane of the general formula Si.sub.nH.sub.2n+2−mX.sub.m with n=1 to 4, m=0 to 2n+2 and X=halogen, (a) generating a non-thermal plasma by an AC voltage of frequency f, or operating a light arc, or introducing electromagnetic energy in the infrared region into the gas, giving a resulting phase which (b) is dispersed in a wetting agent and distilled, and then (c) the distillate is contacted at least once with a mixture of at least two of the substances hydrofluoric acid, nitric acid, water, giving a solid residue comprising hollow bodies having a silicon-comprising shell after the conversion reaction of the distillate with the mixture has abated or ended.

Silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

Silicon-carbon composite materials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

Silicon-carbon composite matertials and related processes are disclosed that overcome the challenges for providing amorphous nano-sized silicon entrained within porous carbon. Compared to other, inferior materials and processes described in the prior art, the materials and processes disclosed herein find superior utility in various applications, including energy storage devices such as lithium ion batteries.

Particulate composite materials and devices comprising the same are provided.

The invention provides a reactor for the manufacture of silicon by chemical vapor deposition (CVD), the reactor comprises a reactor body that can rotate around an axis with the help of a rotation device operatively arranged to the reactor, at least one sidewall that surrounds the reactor body, at least one inlet for reaction gas, at least one outlet for residual gas and at least one heat appliance operatively arranged to the reactor. The reactor is characterized in that during operation for the manufacture of silicon by CVD, the reactor comprises a layer of particles on the inside of at least, one sidewall.