Silicon-containing electrochemical cells and methods of making the same

A method of preparing an electrochemical cell, the method comprising:

• forming a silicon-containing negative electrode comprising:
• prelithiating a silicon-containing electroactive material with an amount of lithium to form a prelithiated electroactive material comprising a lithium silicide;
• wherein the amount of lithium is determined based on the following determined parameters of the electrochemical cell:
• (i) a positive electrode areal capacity;
• (ii) a negative electrode capacity to a positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of the electrochemical cell;
• (iii) a first cycle capacity loss of the electrochemical cell;
• and (iv) a state of charge of the silicon-containing negative electrode.

A method of preparing an electrochemical cell capable of operating in a designated operating voltage, the method comprising:

• (a) determining an amount of lithium to prelithiate a silicon-containing electroactive material for forming a silicon-containing negative electrode and determining a negative electrode capacity to a positive electrode capacity for lithium (N/P) ratio of the electrochemical cell,
• wherein determining the amount of lithium and determining the N/P ratio are based on the following parameters:
• (i) a determined minimum fractional lithium occupancy, (ii) a determined maximum fractional lithium occupancy, (iii) a determined first cycle efficiency of the silicon-containing negative electrode, and (iv) a determined first cycle efficiency of the positive electrode;
• and
• (b) prelithiating the silicon-containing electroactive material with the amount of lithium determined in step (a) to form a pre-lithiated electroactive material comprising a lithium silicide.