Abstract: Methods of preparing an electrochemically active material can include providing electrochemically active particles, coating the particles with a binder, and exposing the particles to a source of metal. The methods can also include forming metal salt on the surface of the particles from the source of metal and heating the metal salt to form metal oxide coated particles.

Abstract: A method and system for carbon-coated silicon in a pyrolyzed carbon binder electrode on copper current collectors may include providing a metal current collector; forming a non-porous carbon coating on the metal current collector; coating silicon particles with carbon; forming an active material layer on the metal current collector, where the active material layer comprises at least 50% silicon particles by weight and a carbon source; and pyrolyzing the active material layer on the metal current collector, with no silicon particles in contact with metal from the metal current collector. The metal current collector may include copper. The battery anode may include no copper-silicon eutectic. The silicon particles may range in size from 2 to 50 ?m. The active material layer may include aluminum carbide. A source for the pyrolyzed carbon may include polyimide and/or polyamide-imide. The current collector may be coated with the non-porous carbon coating using physical vapor deposition.

Abstract: Methods of preparing an electrochemically active material can include providing electrochemically active particles, coating the particles with a binder, and exposing the particles to a source of metal. The methods can also include forming metal salt on the surface of the particles from the source of metal and heating the metal salt to form metal oxide coated particles.