Porous, amorphous lithium storage materials and a method for making the same

摘要

Porous, amorphous lithium storage materials and a method for making these materials are disclosed herein. In an example of the method, composite particles of a lithium storage material in an amorphous phase and a material that is immiscible with the lithium storage material are prepared. Phase separation is induced within the composite particles to precipitate out the amorphous phase lithium storage material and form phase separated composite particles. The immiscible material is chemically etched from the phase separated composite particles to form porous, amorphous lithium storage material particles.

主权项

1. A method for making a porous, amorphous lithium storage material, comprising:
selecting a lithium storage material from the group consisting of silicon and germanium-metal alloys; selecting a material that is immiscible with the lithium storage material from the group consisting of tin, aluminum, silver, indium, and iron; preparing composite particles of the lithium storage material in an amorphous phase and the immiscible material; inducing phase separation within the composite particles to precipitate out the amorphous phase lithium storage material and form phase separated composite particles; and chemically etching the immiscible material from the phase separated composite particles, thereby forming porous, amorphous lithium storage material particles, wherein the chemically etching is accomplished using an acid selected from the group consisting of hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid, and nitric acid.