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Lithium ion batteries, also known as Li-ion Batteries or LIBs, are widely used in mobile telephones, tablets, laptops, and other consumer electronics. LIB's are also used in military applications, electric vehicles, aerospace applications, and other fields.
During discharge of the battery, lithium ions (Li-ions) travel from a high-energy anode material through an electrolyte and a separator to a low-energy cathode material. During charging, energy is used to transfer the Li-ions back to the high-energy anode assembly.
The charge and discharge processes in batteries are slow processes and can degrade the chemical compounds inside the battery over time. Rapid charging causes accelerated degradation of the battery constituents, as well as a potential fire hazard due to a localized, over-potential build-up and increased heat generation, which can ignite the internal components, and lead to explosion.
The present disclosure relates to electrode active materials used in lithium ion devices, such as rechargeable lithium ion batteries. This disclosure covers the methods for making anodes for lithium ion devices. The methods include milling germanium powder, carbon, and boron carbide powder to form a nano-particle mixture having a particle size of 20 to 100 nm.