Electrode active material, electrode and secondary battery including the same, and method of preparing the electrode active material

1. An electrode active material comprising a secondary particle, the secondary particle comprising:

a plurality of primary particles of a silicon-containing material;

an electrically conductive material; and

a chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer disposed directly on and between adjacent primary particles of the silicon-containing material in the secondary particle,

wherein the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer comprises at least one selected from polyvinyl alcohol, poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylic acid) substituted with an alkali cation or an ammonium ion, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, carboxymethyl cellulose ammonium salt, methylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene,

wherein the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer is uncarbonized.

2. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer is effective as a reaction barrier to lithium ions and as a diffusion barrier to lithium ions, with respect to the plurality of primary particles of the silicon-containing material.

3. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises at least one selected from a carbonaceous material, a metal nanostructure, and an electrically conductive polymer.

4. The electrode active material of claim 3 , wherein the carbonaceous material comprises at least one selected from carbon black, natural graphite, artificial graphite, acetylene black, Ketjen black, carbon nanofiber, carbon nanotube, graphene, and expanded graphite.

5. The electrode active material of claim 3 , wherein the metal nanostructure comprises at least one selected from gold nanoparticles, copper nanoparticles, nickel nanoparticles, aluminum nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, titanium nitride nanoparticles, gold nanofibers, copper nanofibers, nickel nanofibers, aluminum nanofibers, silver nanofibers, TiN nanofibers, gold nanotubes, copper nanotubes, nickel nanotubes, aluminum nanotubes, silver nanotubes, and TiN nanotubes.

6. The electrode active material of claim 3 , wherein the electrically conductive polymer comprises at least one selected from polyfluorene, polyphenylene, polypyrene, polypyrrole, polyazulene, polynaphthalene, polycarbazole, polyindole, polyazepine, polyaniline, polythiophene, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(ρ-phenylene sulfide), polyacetylene, poly(p-phenylene vinylene), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-polystyrene sulfonate, a derivative thereof, and a copolymer thereof.

7. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of primary particles of the silicon containing material comprises a primary silicon particle.

8. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the primary particles of the silicon-containing material have an average particle size in a range of about 0.1 nanometers to about 1 micrometers.

9. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein a primary particle of the primary particles of the silicon-containing material further comprises a composite comprising

a silicon core, and

a coating layer,

wherein the coating layer comprises an inorganic nanoparticle and is disposed on a surface of the silicon core.

10. The electrode active material of claim 9 , wherein the inorganic nanoparticle comprises at least one selected from Al 2 O 3 , TiO 2 , Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , La 2 Zr 2 O 7 , and Li 7 La 3 Zr 2 O 12 .

11. The electrode active material of claim 9 , wherein the coating layer further comprises a metal fluoride.

12. The electrode active material of claim 9 , wherein the coating layer includes multiple layers.

13. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of primary particles comprises

a silicon-containing composite;

a carbonaceous nanoscaffold; and

a chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer.

14. The electrode active material of claim 13 , wherein the carbonaceous nanoscaffold comprises at least one selected from a carbon nanotube, a carbon nanofiber, a carbon nanowire, and a combination thereof.

15. The electrode active material of claim 13 , further comprising graphite, wherein the graphite is in a form of a flake or a sphere.

16. The electrode active material of claim 13 , wherein an amount of the primary particles of the silicon-containing composite in the electrode active material is in a range of about 0.1 part by weight to about 99.9 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material.

17. The electrode active material of claim 13 , wherein an amount of the carbonaceous nanoscaffold in the electrode active material is in a range of about 0.1 part by weight to about 50 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material.

18. The electrode active material of claim 13 , wherein an amount of the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer in the electrode active material is in a range of about 0.1 part by weight to about 99.9 parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of the electrode active material.

19. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein an average particle diameter of the electrode active material is in a range of about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers.

20. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the electrode active material has a differential capacity peak with respect to Li/Li + at an operating potential in a range of about 200 millivolts to about 600 millivolts, and

wherein the differential capacity peak is increased by at least 1 millivolt compared to a peak of an electrode active material that does not include the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer.

21. The electrode active material of claim 1 , wherein the electrode active material has a differential capacity peak with respect to Li/Li + at an operating potential in a range of about 200 millivolts to about 600 millivolts, and

wherein the differential capacity peak has a full width at half maximum in a range of about 1 millivolts to about 400 millivolts.

22. An electrode comprising the electrode active material of claim 1 .

23. A secondary battery comprising the electrode of claim 22 .

24. The secondary battery of claim 23 , wherein the secondary battery is a secondary lithium ion battery, a lithium-sulfur secondary battery, or a lithium air secondary battery.

25. A method of preparing an electrode active material, the method comprising:

contacting a plurality of primary particles of a silicon-containing material, an electrically conductive material, and a solvent to form a slurry;

mixing the slurry to aggregate the primary particles and the electrically conductive material to form secondary particles comprising the primary particles and the electrically conductive material;

contacting the slurry comprising the secondary particles and a solution for forming a chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer to form a mixture; and

heat treating the mixture to obtain the electrode active material, wherein the electrode active material comprises a secondary particle, wherein the secondary particle comprises

a plurality of primary particles of a silicon-containing material,

an electrically conductive material, and

a chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer disposed directly on and between adjacent primary particles of the silicon-containing material in the secondary particle,

wherein the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer comprises at least one selected from polyvinyl alcohol, poly(acrylic acid), a poly(acrylic acid) substituted with an alkali cation or an ammonium ion, polyimide, polyamideimide, polyvinylidene fluoride, carboxymethyl cellulose, carboxymethyl cellulose sodium salt, carboxymethyl cellulose ammonium salt, methylcellulose, hydroxymethylcellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, ethyl cellulose, diacetyl cellulose, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, and polypropylene, and

wherein the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer is uncarbonized.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein the slurry further comprises a binder.

27. The method of claim 26 , wherein the binder is a polymer which is different from the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer.

28. The method of claim 25 , wherein the electrically conductive material comprises at least one selected from a carbonaceous nanoscaffold, and graphite in a form of a flake or in a form of a sphere.

29. The method of claim 25 , wherein the slurry further comprises an inorganic nanoparticle.

30. The method of claim 25 , wherein an amount of a solid content of the slurry is in a range of about 1 weight percent to about 50 weight percent, based on a total weight of the slurry.

31. The method of claim 25 , wherein the solution for forming the chemically cross-linked water-insoluble polymer comprises a monomer comprising a functional group that is chemically capable of cross-linking to at least one selected from a hydroxyl group, an aldehyde group, a carboxy group, an amine group, and an amide group.

32. The method of claim 25 , wherein the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of less than 600° C.

33. The method of claim 32 , wherein the heat treatment is performed at a temperature of 300° C. or less.