An embodiment provides: a negative electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, wherein the negative electrode active material has silicon nanoparticles distributed in a silicon alloy and contains a SiAlNiB composition; and a method for producing same. Accordingly, a negative electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery can be provided, wherein the negative electrode active material has a controlled volume expansion rate and excellent electrical properties.

Amorphous steel composites with enhanced mechanical properties and related methods for toughening amorphous steel alloys. The composites are formed from monolithic amorphous steel and hard ceramic particulates, which must be embedded in the glass matrix through melting at a temperature above the melting point for the steel but below the melting point for the ceramic. The ceramics may be carbides, nitrides, borides, iron-refractory carbides, or iron-refractory borides. The produced composites may be one of two types, primarily distinguished by the methods for embedding the ceramic particulates in the steel. These methods may be applied to a variety of amorphous steels as well as other non-ferrous amorphous metals, and the resulting composites can be used in various applications and utilizations.

Systems, methods, and devices for forming and implementing a graphene-copper composite powder are disclosed. The graphene-copper composite powder may be formed by providing an inert environment, introducing a first mist to the inert environment, introducing a second mist to the inert environment, and mixing the first mist and the second mist within the inert environment to thereby produce a graphene-copper composite powder. The first mist being atomized copper with a negative charge, and the second mist including graphene flakes with a positive charge. The graphene-copper composite powder may be used to form components via additive manufacturing or traditional powder metallurgy processes.