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

Abstract

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 silicon element, said fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm. An electrode structural body for a rechargeable lithium battery, having an electrode material layer comprising said silicon-based material fine powder. A rechargeable lithium battery whose anode comprising said electrode structural body.

1 - 66 . (canceled) 
     
     
         67 . A process for producing an electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said process includes a step (a) of finely grinding a powder of a silicon-based material to produce a silicon-based material fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm, and further includes a step (b) of forming an oxidation preventive surface coat film on the surface of said silicon-based material fine powder during said step (a) or after said step (a). 
     
     
         68 . The process according to  claim 67 , wherein said process further includes a step (c) of incorporating oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. % in said silicon-based material fine powder produced during said step (a) or after said step (a). 
     
     
         69 . The process according to  claim 67 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises an oxide film. 
     
     
         70 . The process according to  claim 67 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         71 . The process according to  claim 68 , wherein said process includes, after said step (a), a step (c′) of making said silicon-based material fine powder to have said oxidation preventive surface coat film including an oxide surface coat film having an oxygen element content (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. %. 
     
     
         72 . A process for producing an electrode structural body having an electrode material for a rechargeable lithium battery, characterized in that said process includes a step (i) of producing said electrode material, said step (i) comprising finely grinding a powder of a silicon-based material to produce a silicon-based material fine powder having an average particle size (R) in a range of 0.1 μm≦R<0.5 μm, and further includes a step (ii) of forming an oxidation preventive surface coat film on the surface of said silicon-based material fine powder produced during said step (i) or after said step (i). 
     
     
         73 . The process according to  claim 72 , wherein said process further includes a step (iii) of incorporating oxygen element (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. % in said silicon-based material fine powder produced during said step (i) or after said step (i). 
     
     
         74 . The process according to  claim 73 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises an oxide film. 
     
     
         75 . The process according to  claim 73 , wherein said oxidation preventive surface coat film comprises a polymer film. 
     
     
         76 . The process according to  claim 73 , wherein said process further includes a step (iii′) of making said silicon-based material fine powder to have said oxidation preventive surface coat film including an oxide surface coat film having an oxygen element content (O) in an amount in a range of 0.5 wt. %≦[O]≦5 wt. %. 
     
     
         77 . The process according to  claim 72 , wherein in said step (ii), a thin oxide film as an oxidation preventive surface coat film is formed on the surface of said silicon-based material fine powder. 
     
     
         78 . A process for producing a rechargeable battery comprising at least an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte, characterized in that said process includes a step of forming said anode in accordance with a process for producing an electrode structural body, defined in  claim 72 .