The present invention provides a nanoparticle synthesis device capable of improving productivity of nanoparticles by increasing the size of a reaction region of laser pyrolysis of a source 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.

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 system and method of forming a silicon-hybrid anode material. The silicon-hybrid anode material including a microparticle mixture of a quantity of silicon microparticles and a quantity of metal microparticles intermixed with the quantity of silicon microparticles in a selected ratio. The microparticle mixture is formed in a silicon-hybrid anode material layer having a thickness of between about 2 and about 15 m.

A system and method of forming a silicon-hybrid anode material. The silicon-hybrid anode material including a microparticle mixture of a quantity of silicon microparticles and a quantity of metal microparticles intermixed with the quantity of silicon microparticles in a selected ratio. The microparticle mixture is formed in a silicon-hybrid anode material layer having a thickness of between about 2 and about 15 m.

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.

An apparatus for producing particles or material-coated particles by decomposition of precursor gas in a stirred or mixed particle bed comprises a reactor vessel, an actuator assembly comprising a shaft disposed at least partially within the reactor vessel, and an actuator element coupled to the shaft and rotatable therewith. The apparatus further comprises a precursor gas supply in fluid communication with the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to circulate seed particles of a seed particle bed in the reactor vessel with the actuator element, and to introduce precursor gas from the gas supply to the seed particle bed, when seed particles are received in the reactor vessel.

An apparatus for producing particles or material-coated particles by decomposition of precursor gas in a stirred or mixed particle bed comprises a reactor vessel, an actuator assembly comprising a shaft disposed at least partially within the reactor vessel, and an actuator element coupled to the shaft and rotatable therewith. The apparatus further comprises a precursor gas supply in fluid communication with the actuator assembly. The actuator assembly is configured to circulate seed particles of a seed particle bed in the reactor vessel with the actuator element, and to introduce precursor gas from the gas supply to the seed particle bed, when seed particles are received in the reactor vessel.

A method for producing a material based on silicon nanowires is provided. The method includes the steps of: i) bringing into contact, in an inert atmosphere, a sacrificial support based on a halogenide, a carbonate, a sulfate or a nitrate of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or a transition metal having metal nanoparticles, with the pyrolysis vapours of a silicon source having a silane compound, by which silicon nanowires are deposited on the sacrificial support; and optionally ii) eliminating the sacrificial support and recovering the silicon nanowires produced in step ii).

A method for producing a material based on silicon nanowires is provided. The method includes the steps of: i) bringing into contact, in an inert atmosphere, a sacrificial support based on a halogenide, a carbonate, a sulfate or a nitrate of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal or a transition metal having metal nanoparticles, with the pyrolysis vapours of a silicon source having a silane compound, by which silicon nanowires are deposited on the sacrificial support; and optionally ii) eliminating the sacrificial support and recovering the silicon nanowires produced in step ii).