Silicon nanosponge particles (10) prepared from a metallurgical grade silicon powder having an initial particle (10) size ranging from about 1 micron to about 4 microns is presented. Each silicon nanosponge particle (10) has a structure comprising a plurality of nanocrystals (20) with pores (30) disposed between the rønocrystals (20) and throughout the entire nanosponge particle (10).
