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, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 20 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 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.

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: 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, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 20 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: 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 micro pores 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: 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 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 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: 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.

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 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, where the volume fraction of micropores is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9 and the volume fraction of pores having a pore diameter no more than 20 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: 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 micro pores 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.