Abstract: Techniques are described for preparing monodisperse polymer beads, such as using monosized seed particles, where the process of growing, polymerizing, or swelling the beads during preparation occurs at low, ambient, or room temperature. A variety of schemes are disclosed for growing, polymerizing, or swelling that avoid thermal initiation-based swelling. For example, photo polymerization, metal-free atom transfer radical polymerization, and redox polymerization schemes are disclosed. Additional features may be implemented in the monodisperse polymer beads, such as controlling bead density, controlling porous character, and inclusion of various chemical functionalities, including protected functionalities that can be activated or de-protected after preparation of the monodisperse polymer beads, such as during subsequent use.

Abstract: Although silicon-oxide based particles have stable capacity and high cycling efficiency as anode active material, they are known to suffer significant capacity loss during the first battery cycles. The addition of lithium silicate may help to mitigate the initial capacity loss, but it has been difficult to produce such anodes. During battery manufacture cell components are exposed to water, and lithium silicate is water soluble. As lithium silicate dissolves, the pH of the water increases, which can etch silicon, degrading the anode active material. Such degradation can be mitigated by doping lithium silicate with multivalent elements or by converting some silicon to metal silicide before water processing. Doping of lithium silicate makes it less soluble in water. And metal silicide is not as easily etched as silicon.

Abstract: Although silicon-oxide based particles have stable capacity and high cycling efficiency as anode active material, they are known to suffer significant capacity loss during the first battery cycles. The addition of lithium silicate may help to mitigate the initial capacity loss, but it has been difficult to produce such anodes. During battery manufacture cell components are exposed to water, and lithium silicate is water soluble. As lithium silicate dissolves, the pH of the water increases, which can etch silicon, degrading the anode active material. Such degradation can be mitigated by doping lithium silicate with multivalent elements or by converting some silicon to metal silicide before water processing. Doping of lithium silicate makes it less soluble in water. And metal silicide is not as easily etched as silicon.

Abstract: Although silicon-oxide based particles have stable capacity and high cycling efficiency as anode active material, they are known to suffer significant capacity loss during the first battery cycles. The addition of lithium silicate may help to mitigate the initial capacity loss, but it has been difficult to produce such anodes. During battery manufacture cell components are exposed to water, and lithium silicate is water soluble. As lithium silicate dissolves, the pH of the water increases, which can etch silicon, degrading the anode active material. Such degradation can be mitigated by doping lithium silicate with multivalent elements or by converting some silicon to metal silicide before water processing. Doping of lithium silicate makes it less soluble in water. And metal silicide is not as easily etched as silicon.

Abstract: Although silicon-oxide based particles have stable capacity and high cycling efficiency as anode active material, they are known to suffer significant capacity loss during the first battery cycles. The addition of lithium silicate may help to mitigate the initial capacity loss, but it has been difficult to produce such anodes. During battery manufacture cell components are exposed to water, and lithium silicate is water soluble. As lithium silicate dissolves, the pH of the water increases, which can etch silicon, degrading the anode active material. Such degradation can be mitigated by doping lithium silicate with multivalent elements or by converting some silicon to metal silicide before water processing. Doping of lithium silicate makes it less soluble in water. And metal silicide is not as easily etched as silicon.