TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION 

The invention relates to the preparation of material comprising a metal compound, comprises extracting a portion of a leaving compound (A) by thermal degradation under vacuum or reaction with an oxidizing solvent, and recovering the material that is depleted or devoid of the leaving compound (A). Preparation of material comprising a metal compound of formula (AxGyMz), comprises extracting a portion of a leaving compound (A) by thermal degradation under vacuum or reaction with an oxidizing solvent, and recovering the material that is depleted or devoid of the leaving compound (A). A : alkali or alkaline metal, including Li, Na, K (all preferred), Rb, Mg or Ca; x : 1-20 (preferably 3-12 or 4-10); G : elements of group 14 of the periodic table of elements, including Si (preferred), Ge, Sn or Pb; y : 1-17 (preferably 1-4); M : noble or semi-noble metal, including Al, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sn or Ag; and z : 1-5 (preferably 1-3 or 1-2). Independent claims are included for: (1) the material obtained by the method; and (2) a battery comprising at least one anode comprising the material.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS 

The method of the invention allows obtaining materials with an optimal mass capacity able to store and release, in a reversible m anner, an alkaline and/or alkaline-earth metal.

This makes such a material particularly suitable for use in the field of electrochemistry.

These materials can further be adapted for use in the field of photovoltaics and thermoelectricity.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

French patent application   n° 07 01282 filed in February 22nd 2007, entitled “Procédé de synthèse et formulation de poudres nanocristallines de métaux du groupe 14”

PCT : WO2008122711

Extensions : EP, US, JP and CN

EP2122720

US2010065775  

LABORATORY AND TYPE OF TRANSFER

Laboratoire des Agrégats Moléculaires et des Matériaux Inorganiques, a CNRS and Université Montpellier 2 common laboratory (UMR5072), in Montpellier, France