Abstract: The present invention provides anode materials, methods of producing them, electrochemical cells, and lithium-ion batteries, where the anode material comprises porous silicon and carboxymethyl cellulose. In certain embodiments, the porous silica additionally comprises other materials, such as styrene-butadiene rubber.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods for processing electrochemically active materials and resulting active material structures for use in rechargeable batteries. The resulting active materials structures include carbon containing coatings that partially or completely cover the surface of the active material structures. In a typical embodiment, the method includes providing a solution of carbon containing precursor in a solvent, dispersing electrochemically active material in the solution to form a mixture, removing the solvent from the mixture to form electrochemically active material coated with the carbon containing precursor, and heating the electrochemically active material coated with the carbon containing precursor in an inert atmosphere at a temperature sufficient to at least partially convert the carbon containing precursor into a carbon coating.