Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for manufacturing microcrystalline nanoscaled silicon particles, the particles made thereof, and a secondary electrochemical cell utilising the particles as the active material of the negative electrode of the secondary electrochemical cell, wherein the silicon particles comprises a chemical compound of formula: Si(1?x)Mx, where 0.005?x?0.20 and M is at least one substitution element chosen from; C, N, or a mixture thereof, and wherein the particles have been subject to a heat treatment of 800 to 900° C. and transformed into a microcrystalline phase having crystallite sizes in the range of 1 to 15 nm.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing predominantly amorphous silicon-containing particles includes a chemical compound of formula: Si(1?x)Cx, where 0.005?x<0.05. The particles, when subjected to XRD analysis applying unmonochromated CuK? radiation, exhibit one peak at around 28° and one peak at around 52°. Both peaks have a Full Width at Half Maximum of at least 5° when using Gaussian peak fitting. The method includes forming a homogeneous gas mixture of a first precursor gas of a silicon containing compound and at least one second precursor gas of a substitution element M containing compound, injecting the homogeneous gas mixture of the first and second precursor gases into a reactor space where the precursor gases are heated to a temperature in the range of from 700 to 900° C. so that the precursor gases react and form particles, and collecting and cooling the particles to a temperature in the range of from ambient temperature up to about 350° C.