Patent ID: 8642216

Claim:
A composite anode active material comprising: an elemental metal phase comprising a metal capable of alloying with lithium, the metal capable of alloying with lithium being selected from the group consisting of Ge Ag, Au, Pt, Mg, Sb, Pb, Bi, Zn, In, and combinations thereof; an intermetallic compound in a phase structurally separate from the elemental metal phase, the intermetallic compound being capable of forming one or more intermediate phases, at least one of the one or more intermediate phases comprises a compound having a composition represented by M x M′ y ,wherein 0<x<1, 0<y<1, x +y=1, M is selected from Ni, Ti, Co, V and Mo, and M′ is Al, and wherein the intermetallic compound does not form an alloy with lithium and the metal capable of alloying with lithium; and a carbonaceous material.