A subject of the invention is a fluidized-bed reactor for producing granular polycrystalline silicon. The fluidized-bed reactor comprises a segmented reactor tube, which is disposed between a reactor top and a reactor bottom, a heating facility, at least one nozzle for supplying fluidizing gas, at least one nozzle for supplying reaction gas, a facility for supplying silicon seed particles, a product removal line, and an offgas removal line. The segmented reactor tube comprises a base segment and at least one spacer segment, there being disposed, between base segment and spacer segment, a flat seal made from a carbon-containing material, the spacer segment consisting of a material which, within a temperature range from 100 to 950° C., has a thermal conductivity of <2 W/mK.

A subject of the invention is a fluidized-bed reactor for producing granular polycrystalline silicon. The fluidized-bed reactor comprises a segmented reactor tube, which is disposed between a reactor top and a reactor bottom, a heating facility, at least one nozzle for supplying fluidizing gas, at least one nozzle for supplying reaction gas, a facility for supplying silicon seed particles, a product removal line, and an offgas removal line. The segmented reactor tube comprises a base segment and at least one spacer segment, there being disposed, between base segment and spacer segment, a flat seal made from a carbon-containing material, the spacer segment consisting of a material which, within a temperature range from 100 to 950° C., has a thermal conductivity of <2 W/mK.

A process for producing silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the process including steps of alloying the raw silicon material with at least one alloying metal to form an alloy; thereafter, processing the alloy to form alloy nano-particles; and thereafter, distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles whereby silicon nano-particles are produced.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon-containing colloids or composite colloids have a silicon-containing shell which surrounds the hollow colloids or composite colloids. The colloids have a spherical geometry. The silicon-containing composite colloids have a spherical geometry and a diameter of between 2 nm and 7 nm in scanning electron micrographs, and the silicon-containing colloids have a spherical geometry with a cavity and a diameter of between 50 and 200 nm in scanning transmission electron micrographs. The cavity is surrounded by a shell with a thickness of between 3 and 10 nm.

Hydrogenated amorphous silicon-containing colloids or composite colloids have a silicon-containing shell which surrounds the hollow colloids or composite colloids. The colloids have a spherical geometry. The silicon-containing composite colloids have a spherical geometry and a diameter of between 2 nm and 7 nm in scanning electron micrographs, and the silicon-containing colloids have a spherical geometry with a cavity and a diameter of between 50 and 200 nm in scanning transmission electron micrographs. The cavity is surrounded by a shell with a thickness of between 3 and 10 nm.

A process for producing silicon nano-particles from a raw silicon material, the process including steps of alloying the raw silicon material with at least one alloying metal to form an alloy; thereafter, processing the alloy to form alloy nano-particles; and thereafter, distilling the alloying metal from the alloy nano-particles whereby silicon nano-particles are produced.

The fluidized bed process for preparing polysilicon by chemical vapor deposition is improved by positioning at least one Laval nozzle upstream from a gas inlet into the reactor.

The fluidized bed process for preparing polysilicon by chemical vapor deposition is improved by positioning at least one Laval nozzle upstream from a gas inlet into the reactor.

A silicon-graphite composite electrode active material used for a secondary battery is provided. The silicon-graphite composite electrode active material may be formed using silicon-graphite composites that silicon is mixed in graphite material as unit powder. The silicon-graphite composite may be formed such that the silicon is located inside the graphite material and is not exposed to an outer surface of the graphite material.

A method of making an organoaminosilane compound, comprising i) combining A) a compound comprising a primary or secondary amine, B) monosilane (SiH.sub.4), and C) a catalyst, where the catalyst comprises magnesium or boron, where A), B) and C) are combined under sufficient conditions to form the organoaminosilane compound and hydrogen. A method of making a silylamine, the method comprising: i) forming an organoaminosilane compound by i) combining A) a compound comprising a primary or secondary amine, B) monosilane (SiH.sub.4), and C) a catalyst, where the catalyst comprises magnesium or boron, and ii) combining ammonia and the organoaminosilane compound produced in i) under sufficient conditions to form a silylamine product and a byproduct, where the byproduct is a primary or secondary amine.