Anode material having a uniform metal-semiconductor alloy layer

摘要

The present invention relates to methods for producing anode materials for use in nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries. In the present invention, a metal-semiconductor alloy layer is formed on an anode material by contacting a portion of the anode material with a solution containing metals ions and a dissolution component. When the anode material is contacted with the solution, the dissolution component dissolves a part of the semiconductor material in the anode material and deposit the metal on the anode material. After deposition, the anode material and metal are annealed to form a uniform metal-semiconductor alloy layer. The anode material of the present invention can be in a monolithic form or a particle form. When the anode material is in a particle form, the particulate anode material can be further shaped and sintered to agglomerate the particulate anode material.

主权项

1. A secondary battery comprising an anode, a cathode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, the anode comprising a monolithic porous mass of a sintered particulate material wherein the particulate material comprises a semiconductor material core and a metal-semiconductor alloy layer thereon and has a diameter of about 0.001 micrometers to 100 micrometers, the volume of the metal-semiconductor alloy layer is about 0.1% to 5% of the total particle volume and the metal-semiconductor alloy layer provides adhesion and cohesion of the particles in the porous mass.