Conducting Polymer Network-Protected Nanowires of an Anode Active Material for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Abstract

Provided is a composite particulate for use in a lithium-ion battery anode. The composite particulate comprises one or a plurality of nanowires of an anode active material (e.g. Si, Ge, Sn, SiOx, SnO2, etc., where 0.1≤x≤1.9), having a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 500 nm, encapsulated by or embedded in an electrically and/or ionically conducting polymer gel network. The polymer gel network may further comprise graphene sheets and/or other conductive additives (e.g. carbon nanotubes, CNT) dispersed therein. Also provided is a process for producing multiple composite particulates herein described.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.