Methods and apparatus for producing nanometer scale particles for energy storage materials utilizing an electrosterically stabilized slurry in a media mill

A method preparing nanometer scale particles for electrochemical materials, comprising:

• providing a media mill;
• adding to the media mill a feed substrate suspension, wherein the feed substrate suspension comprises a liquid carrier medium and electrochemical feed substrate particles, wherein the electrochemical feed substrate particles comprise an energy storage material selected from anode active materials and cathode active materials;
• adding to the feed substrate suspension in the media mill an electrosteric dispersant to separate the feed substrate particles in the feed substrate suspension in order to improve spacing of the feed substrate particles, wherein the electrosteric dispersant comprises a polyelectrolyte;
• operating the media mill for a period of time to comminute the electrochemical feed substrate particles, thereby forming nanometer scale particles having a (D90) particle size of less than one micron;
• and
• recirculating for further grinding the nanometer scale particles from the media mill.