Graphene-containing metalized silicon oxide composite materials

1. Active material composite particles for a lithium ion secondary battery, the composite particles each comprising:

a core particle comprising an alkali metal or an alkali earth metal silicate; and

a coating disposed on the surface of the core particle, the coating comprising turbostratic carbon having a Raman spectrum having:

a D band having a peak intensity (I D ) at wave number between 1330 cm −1 and 1360 cm −1 ;

a G band having a peak intensity (I G ) at wave number between 1580 cm −1 and 1600 cm −1 ; and

a 2D band having a peak intensity (I 2D ) at wave number between 2650 cm −1 and 2750 cm −1 ,

wherein:

a ratio of I D /I G ranges from 0.3 to 0.7; and

a ratio of I 2D /I G ranges from about 0.4 to about 2,

wherein at least some of the core particles composite particles are completely encapsulated by the corresponding coating.

2. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein the core particle represents from about 80 wt % to about 99.5 wt % of the total weight of the composite particles.

3. The composite particles of claim 2 , wherein the coating represents from about 0.5 wt % to about 20 wt % of the total weight of the composite particles.

4. The composite particles of claim 3 , wherein the turbostratic carbon represents from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of the total weight of the particles.

5. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein from about 90 wt % to about 100 wt % of the turbostratic carbon is in the form of platelets comprising from 1 to 10 sheets of graphene.

6. The composite particles of claim 5 , wherein the coating further comprises from about 0.1 wt % to about 1 wt % carbon nanotubes (CNTs), based on the total weight of the composite particles.

7. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein at least some additional ones of the core particles are only partially encapsulated by the corresponding coatings.

8. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein the composite particles have an average particle size ranging from about 3 μm to about 10 μm.

9. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein the core particle comprises:

a primary phase comprising Li 2 Si 2 O 5 , Li 2 SiO 3 , Li 4 SiO 4 , or any combination thereof, and

crystalline silicon domains dispersed within the primary phase.

10. The composite particles of claim 9 , wherein the core particle further comprises SiOx domains dispersed within the primary phase, where x ranges from 0.8 to 1.2.

11. The composite particles of claim 9 , wherein:

the primary phase comprises Li 2 Si 2 O 5 ; and

the crystalline silicon domains have an average particles size less than 100 nm.

12. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein the core particle comprises:

a primary phase comprising MgSiO 3 , Mg 2 SiO 4 , or combination thereof; and

crystalline silicon domains dispersed within the primary phase.

13. The composite particles of claim 1 , wherein:

the ratio of I 2D /I G ranges from 0.8 to 1.2;

I D is at wave number of about 1340 cm −1 ;

I G is at wave number of about 1584 cm −1 ; and

I 2D is at a wave number of about 2700 cm −1 .

14. An electrode comprising:

the composite particles of claim 1 ; and

a binder.

15. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein the binder comprises polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), poly(acrylic) acid, polyethylenetetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), polyamides, and polyimides, polyethylene (UHMW), carboxy methyl cellulose (CMC), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyacrylic acid (PAA), lithium polyacrylic acid (LiPAA), or mixtures thereof.

16. The electrode of claim 14 , further comprising a conductive additive selected from the group consisting of carbon black, carbon nanotubes, an electrically conductive polymer, graphite, a metallic powder, nickel, aluminum, titanium, stainless steel, and any combination thereof.

17. A lithium secondary battery comprising:

an anode comprising the electrode of claim 14 ;

a cathode;

a casing housing the anode and cathode; and

an electrolyte disposed between the anode and cathode.

18. The battery of claim 17 , wherein the battery has a 50 th cycle capacity retention of at least 72% and a first cycle efficiency of at least 87%.