Abstract: This invention relates to a process for preparing composite particles, the process comprising the deposition of a plurality of electroactive material domains in the pores of porous particles, wherein the porous particles comprise micropores and mesopores and have a D1 particle diameter of at least 0.5 ?m and a D50 particle diameter in the range from 1 to 20 ?m.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing composite particles, the process comprising contacting the plurality of particles in the reaction zone with a gas comprising at least 25 vol % of a silicon-containing precursor at a temperature effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles. A controlled temperature differential between the maximum temperature of the internal surfaces of the reaction zone and the simultaneous minimum temperature within the plurality of porous particles is maintained during the contacting step.

Abstract: Silicon-containing composite particles, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of porous particles comprising micropores and/or mesopores, wherein the D50 particle diameter of the porous particles from 0.5 to 200 ?m; the total pore volume of micropores and mesopores is from 0.4 to 2.2 cm3/g; and the PD50 pore diameter is no more than 30 nm; c (b) combining a charge of the porous particles with a charge of a silicon-containing precursor in a batch pressure reactor, wherein the charge of porous particles has a volume of at least 20 cm3 per litre of reactor volume (cm3/LRV), and wherein the charge of the silicon-containing precursor comprises at least 2 g of silicon per litre of reactor volume (g/LRV); and (c) heating the reactor to a temperature effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles, thereby providing the silicon-containing composite particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing silicon-containing composite particles in a fluidized bed. Porous conductive particles having a defined particle size and pore structure are combined with a particulate additive having defined particle size, density and BET surface area. The combined porous conductive particles and particulate additive are subjected to chemical vapour infiltration in a fluidised bed to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous conductive particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material and processes for the preparation thereof. The particulate material consists of a plurality of composite particles. The composite particles comprise a porous particle framework comprising micropores and/or mesopores. The total pore volume of micropores and mesopores as measured by gas adsorption is in the range from 0.4 to 2.2 cm3/g. The composite particles comprise a plurality of electroactive material domains and a plurality of modifier material domains disposed within the internal pore volume of the porous particle framework. At least a portion of the modifier material domains are located between adjacent electroactive material domains.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing composite particles, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of porous particles in a pressure reactor; (b) contacting the plurality of porous particles with a silicon precursor gas at conditions effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles to provide composite particles comprising a porous particle framework and elemental silicon within the pores of the porous particle framework; and (c) during step (b), withdrawing an effluent gas from the pressure reactor, wherein the silicon precursor gas is introduced into the pressure reactor continuously.

Abstract: The invention provides methods for providing composite particles with a carbon coating and the resulting core-shell particulate material. The process comprises subjecting a plurality of precursor composite particles to a heat treatment in contact with a pyrolytic carbon precursor such that an outer shell of a pyrolytic conductive carbon material is formed on the precursor composite particles, wherein the heat treatment is carried out at a temperature of no more than 700° C.

Abstract: This invention relates to a particulate material consisting of a plurality of composite particles comprising a porous particle framework and a plurality of nanoscale elemental silicon domains located within the pores of the porous particle framework. The porous particle framework comprises micropores and mesopores, wherein the total volume of micropores and mesopores in the porous particle framework as measured by gas adsorption is from 0.5 to 1.8 cm3/g. The composite particles comprise from 30 to 70 wt % silicon, wherein at least 30 wt % of the silicon is surface silicon as determined by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA); no more than 1.2 wt % of hydrogen; and have a weight ratio of oxygen to silicon of no more than 0.15. The BET surface area of the composite particles is no more than 40 m2/g.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous conductive particle framework including micropores and/or mesopores having a total volume of at least 0.4 to 2.2 cm3/g; (b) an electroactive material disposed within the porous conductive particle framework; and (c) a lithium-ion permeable filler penetrating the pores of the porous conductive particle framework and disposed intermediate the nanoscale silicon domains and the exterior of the composite particles.

Abstract: Silicon-containing composite particles, the process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a plurality of porous particles comprising micropores and/or mesopores, wherein the D50 particle diameter of the porous particles from 0.5 to 200 ?m; the total pore volume of micropores and mesopores is from 0.4 to 2.2 cm3/g; and the PD50 pore diameter is no more than 30 nm; c (b) combining a charge of the porous particles with a charge of a silicon-containing precursor in a batch pressure reactor, wherein the charge of porous particles has a volume of at least 20 cm3 per litre of reactor volume (cm3/LRV), and wherein the charge of the silicon-containing precursor comprises at least 2 g of silicon per litre of reactor volume (g/LRV); and (c) heating the reactor to a temperature effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles, thereby providing the silicon-containing composite particles.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for preparing composite particles, the process comprising contacting the plurality of particles in the reaction zone with a gas comprising at least 25 vol % of a silicon-containing precursor at a temperature effective to cause deposition of silicon in the pores of the porous particles. A controlled temperature differential between the maximum temperature of the internal surfaces of the reaction zone and the simultaneous minimum temperature within the plurality of porous particles is maintained during the contacting step.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise a plurality of silicon nanoparticles dispersed within a conductive carbon matrix. The particulate material comprises 40 to 65 wt % silicon, at least 6 wt % and less than 20% oxygen, and has a weight ratio of the total amount of oxygen and nitrogen to silicon in the range of from 0.1 to 0.45 and a weight ratio of carbon to silicon in the range of from 0.1 to 1. The particulate electroactive materials are useful as an active component of an anode in a metal ion battery.

Abstract: An electrochemically active material comprising a surface is provided, wherein the surface comprises an oligomer. A method of functionalising the surface with the oligomer is also provided.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and mesopores having a total volume of 0.4 to 0.75 cm3/g, wherein the micropore volume fraction is in the range of 0.5 to 0.85 based on the total volume of micropores and mesopores; and (b) silicon located at least within the micropores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and mesopores.

Abstract: The invention relates to a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework comprising micropores and mesopores having a total pore volume of at least 0.6 cm3/g and no more than 2 cm3/g, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.5 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 10 nm is at least 0.75, and the porous carbon framework has a D50 particle size of less than 20 ?m; (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and optional mesopores having a combined total volume of at least 0.7 cm3/g, wherein at least half of the micropore/mesopore volume is in the form of pores having a diameter of no more than 1.5 nm; and (b) an electroactive material located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework. The D90 particle diameter of the composite particles is no more than 10 nm.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and optional mesopores having a total volume of at least 0.7 cm3/g and up to 2 cm3/g, wherein at least half of the total micropore and mesopore volume is in the form of pores having a diameter of no more than 1.5 nm; and (b) silicon located within the micropores and optional mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the total volume of the micropores and optional mesopores.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials consisting of a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and/or mesopores having a total volume of at least 0.6 cm 3/g, wherein at least half of the micropore/mesopore volume is in the form of pores having a diameter of no more than 2 nm; and (b) an electroactive material located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework. The D 90 particle diameter of the composite particles is no more than 10 nm.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for preparing particulate materials having high electrochemical capacities that are suitable for use as anode active materials in rechargeable metal-ion batteries. In one aspect, the disclosure provides a process for preparing a particulate material comprising a plurality of composite particles. The process includes providing particulate porous carbon frameworks comprising micropores and/or mesopores, wherein the porous carbon frameworks have a D50 particle diameter of at least 20 ?m; depositing an electroactive material selected from silicon and alloys thereof into the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon frameworks using a chemical vapour infiltration process in a fluidised bed reactor, to provide intermediate particles; and comminuting the intermediate particles to provide said composite particles.

Abstract: This invention relates to particulate electroactive materials comprising a plurality of composite particles, wherein the composite particles comprise: (a) a porous carbon framework including micropores and/or mesopores having a total volume of at least 0.7 cm3/g, wherein at least half of the micropore/mesopore volume is in the form of pores having a diameter of no more than 5 nm; and (b) silicon located within the micropores and/or mesopores of the porous carbon framework in a defined amount relative to the volume of the micropores and/or mesopores.