Silicon containing composite material and method for producing same

A method for the production of a composite material, the method comprising the method steps of:

• (i) passing silicon nanoparticles, a binder, and one or more carbon sources, where the one or more carbon sources comprise one or more of graphite, graphene, graphite nanoplates, carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibres, to a first agglomeration step in which is formed a first composite comprising a plurality of silicon nanoparticles and one or more graphite, graphene, graphite nanoplates, carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibres located within a carbon matrix, where the silicon nanoparticles are encapsulated with one or more of graphite, graphene, carbon nanotubes and carbon fibres;
• (ii) processing the first composite of step (i) and a binder in a coating step to produce composites with organic containing shells;
• and
• (iii) thermal treatment of the composites and shells of step (ii) whereby the organic material in the shells is converted to carbon thereby producing a composite material comprising a plurality of silicon nanoparticles and one or more of graphite, graphene, graphite nanoplates, carbon nanotubes, and carbon fibres located within a carbon matrix, where the silicon nanoparticles are encapsulated with one or more of the graphite, graphene, carbon nanotubes and carbon fibres, and about which is provided an amorphous carbon shell, wherein the thickness of the amorphous carbon external shell is between about 10 nm to 5000 nm.