Patent ID: 8906551

Claim:
An electrode in an electrochemical battery wherein said electrode comprises clathrate alloys of silicon, germanium and/or tin of one of the following formulas: (a) Type I clathrate alloy A x M y X 46-y , wherein A=Li with none, one or more guest atoms selected from group 1A, group 2A, group 1B, group 2B, group 3B, group 5A, group 7A and group 8; M=Si, Ge, Sn, Al, Cu or Ga; X=Si, Ge and/or Sn wherein M≠X≠A; y is a number value greater than zero; and x is a number value; and (b) Type II clathrate alloy A x M y X 34-y where A=Li with none, one or more guest atoms from group 1A, group 2A, group 1B, group 2B, group 3B, group 5A, group 7A and group 8; M=B, Al, P, S, Cu, Ni, Zn, Ag, Au, Pt, Ga, Se or any metal or metalloid element capable of forming a clathrate with X; X=Si, Ge or Sn wherein M≠X≠A; y is a number value greater than zero; and x is a number value.