Powder, Electrode and Battery Comprising Such a Powder

Abstract

Powder comprising particles comprising a matrix material and silicon-based domains dispersed in this matrix material, whereby the matrix material is carbon or a material that can be thermally decomposed to carbon, whereby either part of the silicon-based domains are present in the form of agglomerates of silicon-based domains whereby at least 98% of these agglomerates have a maximum size of 3 μm or less, or the silicon-based domains are not at all agglomerated into agglomerates.

1 - 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . A powder comprising graphite and particles comprising a matrix material and silicon-based domains dispersed in the matrix material, wherein the matrix material is a continuous phase and comprises carbon, wherein the silicon content in the silicon-based domains is 80 weight percent or more, and either part of the silicon-based domains are present in the form of agglomerates of silicon-based domains and wherein at least 98% of the agglomerates have a maximum size of 3 μm or less, or the silicon-based domains are not at all agglomerated into agglomerates, wherein the silicon-based domains do not contact the graphite, and wherein the powder has a BET value of less than 10 m 2 /g. 
     
     
         17 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the matrix material comprises pitch or thermally decomposed pitch. 
     
     
         18 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the matrix material comprises hard carbon. 
     
     
         19 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein at least 98% of the agglomerates of the silicon based domains have a maximum size of 2 μm or less. 
     
     
         20 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein all agglomerates of the silicon based domains have a maximum size of 3 μm or less. 
     
     
         21 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the silicon-based domains have a mass-based average diameter d50 which is less than 500 nm. 
     
     
         22 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the silicon-based domains are silicon-based particles. 
     
     
         23 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the particles of the powder contain at least 90% by weight of said silicon-based domains and said matrix material. 
     
     
         24 . The powder according to  claim 16 , wherein the particles have a porosity of less than 20 volume %. 
     
     
         25 . An electrode for an electrochemical cell comprising the powder of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         26 . A battery containing the electrode of  claim 25 .