Negative electrode material and non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery

1. A negative electrode active material comprising:

a lithium silicate phase; and

silicon particles that are dispersed in the lithium silicate phase,

wherein the silicon particles have a crystallite size of 10 nm or more,

the lithium silicate phase has a composition represented by the following formula: Li 2 Si 2 O 5 ⋅(x−2)SiO 2 , where 2<x≤18 is satisfied, and

wherein the negative electrode active material is a particulate material.

2. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein 2.1≤x≤18 is satisfied.

3. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein 3≤x≤8 is satisfied.

4. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein the lithium silicate phase and the silicon particles form the particulate material, and the particulate material that has an average particle size of 1 to 25 μm.

5. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 4 , comprising

a conductive material that covers at least a portion of a surface of the particulate material.

6. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 1 ,

wherein the silicon particles have an average particle size of 500 nm or less.

7. The negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 6 ,

wherein the silicon particles have an average particle size of 200 nm or less.

8. A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery comprising:

a negative electrode that includes the negative electrode active material in accordance with claim 1 and a binder;

a positive electrode that is capable of electrochemically absorbing and desorbing lithium; and

a non-aqueous electrolyte.