Anode materials for lithium ion batteries and methods of making and using same

An electrochemically active material represented by general formula (I):

• SiuSnvM1wM2x[P0.2O0.8]y·Az (I)
• where u, v, w, x, y, and z represent atomic % values and u+v+w+x+y+z=100;
• M1 comprises a metal element or combinations of metal elements selected from Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zr, B, carbon, or alloys thereof;
• M2 comprises a metal element or combinations of metal elements selected from Mg, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Zr, or alloys thereof;
• A is an inactive phase other than a phosphate or silicide;
• and
• 0<u<90, 0≤v<20, 0<w<50, 0<x<20, 0<y<20, and O≤z<50;
• wherein the electrochemically active material includes one or more active phases and an insulating phase, wherein the insulating phase includes the moiety M2x[P0.2O0.8]y of formula (I), and
• wherein each of the one or more active phases and the insulating phase of the electrochemically active material includes or is in the form of one or more grains,
• wherein the electrochemically active material comprises an active phase that comprises one or more active elements selected from Mg, Ca, Sr, Ag, Zn, B, Al, Si, Sn, Pb, Sb, or Bi, the active phase accounting for between 30 vol. % and 70 vol. % of the electrochemically active material, based on the total volume of the electrochemically active material,
• wherein the inactive phase comprises titanium, vanadium, chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, nickel, rare earth metals, or combinations thereof, and wherein the inactive phase comprises a conducting phase that accounts for between 1 vol. % and 60 vol. % of the electrochemically active material, based on the total volume of the electrochemically active material.