High capacity battery electrode structures

An electrode assembly comprising:

• a conductive substrate for conducting electrical current between an electrode active material and battery terminal;
• and
• an electrode material comprising:
• a layer of first nanostructures attached to the conductive substrate, the first nanostructures comprising one or more metal silicides;
• a layer of second nanostructures positioned on the layer of the first nanostructures;
• and
• a coating of the electrode active material that covers at least a portion of the first nanostructures and the second nanostructures,
• wherein the first nanostructures and the second nanostructures provide electronic communication between the electrode active material and conductive substrate.

An electrochemical cell comprising:

• a first electrode comprising an electronically conductive layer, a layer of first nanostructures positioned on the electronically conductive layer, wherein the first nanostructures comprising one or more metal silicides, a layer of second nanostructures positioned on the layer of the first nanostructures, and a coating of electrode active material that covers at least a portion of the first nanostructures and the second nanostructures;
• a second electrode;
• and
• an electrolyte providing ionic communication between the first electrode and the second electrode.

A method of fabricating an electrode comprising:

• receiving a substrate comprising a base material;
• forming a source material layer having a controlled thickness, the source material layer comprising a metal different from the base material;
• forming a plurality of template nanostructures comprising a metal silicide attached to the base material by chemically reacted the metal with a silicon containing precursor;
• and
• forming a coating of an electrochemically active material over the plurality of template nanostructures, the electrochemically active material configured to take in and release lithium ions during cycling,
• wherein the plurality of template nanostructures facilitates conduction of electrical current to and from the electrochemically active material.