Electrode material for rechargeable lithium battery, electrode structural body comprising said electrode material, rechargeable lithium battery having said electrode structural body, process for the production of said electrode structural body, and process for the production of said rechargeable lithium battery

1. An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is Si, wherein said silicon-based material is a silicon alloy containing Si in an amount in a range of from 50 to 90 wt. %, Sn in an amount in a range of from 9 to 49 wt. %, and a transition metal element in a range of from 1 to 15 wt. %, wherein said silicon alloy contains Cu.

2. An electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode material comprises a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is Si, wherein said silicon-based material is a silicon alloy containing Si in an amount in a range of from 50 to 90 wt. %, Sn in an amount in a range of from 9 to 49 wt. %, and a transition metal element in a range of from 1 to 15 wt. %, wherein said silicon alloy contains oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. % [O]≦5 wt. %.

3. The electrode material according to claims 1 or 2 , wherein said fine powder has an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm.

4. The electrode material according to claims 1 or 2 , wherein said fine powder has an oxidation preventive surface coat film which covers the surface of said fine powder.

5. The electrode material according to claim 4 , wherein said oxidation prevcntive surface coat film comprises an oxide film.

6. The electrode material according to claim 4 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises a polymer film.

7. The electrode material according to claims 1 or 2 , wherein said fine powder is an amorphous phase-bearing fine powder.

8. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode structural body has a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, wherein said silicon-based material is a silicon alloy containing Si in an amount in a range of from 50 to 90 wt. %, Sn in an amount in a range of from 9 to 49 wt. %, and a transition metal element in an amount in a range of from 1 to 15 wt. %, wherein said silicon alloy contains Cu.

9. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode structural body has a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, wherein said silicon-based material is a silicon alloy containing Si in an amount in a range of from 50 to 90 wt. %, Sn in an amount in a range of from 9 to 49 wt. %, and a transition metal element in an amount in a range of from 1 to 15 wt. %, wherein said silicon alloy contains oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. %.

10. The electrode structural body according to claims 8 or 9 , wherein said fine powder has an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm.

11. The electrode structural body according to claims 8 or 9 , wherein said fine powder is an amorphous phase-bearing fine powder.

12. The electrode structural body according to claims 8 or 9 , wherein said fine powder has an oxidation preventive surface coat film which covers the surface of said fine powder.

13. The electrode structural body according to claim 12 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises an oxide film.

14. The electrode structural body according to claim 12 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises a polymer film.

15. The electrode structural body according to claim 14 , wherein said fine powder is an amorphous phase-bearing fine powder.

16. The electrode structural body according to claims 8 or 9 , wherein said electrode structural body comprises an electrode material layer and a collector, said electrode material layer comprising said fine powder, an electrically conductive auxiliary, and a binder, wherein said electrode material layer contains said electrically conductive auxiliary (C) in an amount in a range of 10 wt. %,≦[C]≦60 wt. %.

17. The electrode structural body according to claim 16 , wherein the amount of said electrically conductive auxiliary (C) contained in said electrode material layer is in a range of 20 wt. %≦[C]≦50 wt %.

18. The electrode structural body according to claim 16 , wherein the amount of said fine powder (A) contained in said electrode material layer is in a range of 30 wt. %≦[A]≦80 wt. %.

19. The electrode structural body according to claim 16 , wherein said electrically conductive auxiliary comprises a graphite.

20. A rechargeable lithium battery in which oxidation-reduction reaction of lithium is used, comprising at least an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte, characterized in that said anode comprises an electrode structural body defined in claims 8 or 9 .

21. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein said electrolyte comprises an electrolyte solution added with a compound selected from the group consisting of metal halides and amines.

22. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein said fine powder has an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm.

23. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein said fine powder is an amorphous phase-bearing fine powder.

24. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein said fine powder has an oxidation preventive surface coat film which covers the surface of said fine powder.

25. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 24 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises an oxide film.

26. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 24 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises a polymer film.

27. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 26 , wherein said fine powder is an amorphous phase-bearing fine powder.

28. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 24 , wherein said fine powder whose surface is covered by said oxidation preventive surface coat film contains oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. %.

29. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 20 , wherein said electrode structural body comprises an electrode material layer and a collector, said electrode material layer comprising said fine powder, an electrically conductive auxiliary, and a binder, wherein said electrode material layer contains said electrically conductive auxiliary (C) in an amount in a range of 10 wt. %≦[C]≦60 wt. %.

30. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 29 , wherein the amount of said electrically conductive auxiliary (C) contained in said electrode material layer is in a range of 20 wt. %≦[C]≦50 wt. %.

31. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 29 , wherein the amount of said fine powder (A) contained in said electrode material layer is in a range of 30 wt. %≦[A]≦80 wt. %.

32. The rechargeable lithium battery according to claim 29 , wherein said electrically conductive auxiliary comprises a graphite.

33. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said electrode structural body has a fine powder of a silicon-based material whose principal component is silicon element, wherein said silicon-based material is a silicon alloy containing Si in an amount in a range of from 50 to 90 wt. %, Sn in an amount in a range of from 9 to 49 wt. %, and a transition metal element in an amount in a range of from 1 to 15 wt. %, wherein said fine powder has an oxidation preventive surface coat film which covers the surface of said fine powder, and wherein said fine powder whose surface is covered by said oxidation preventive surface coat film contains oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. %.