Patent ID: 7767349

Claim:
A lithium ion battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte that is electrical communication with both the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode comprises an alloy composition that is amorphous, the alloy composition comprising a) tin in an amount of 1 to 50 mole percent; b) a second element comprising silicon, aluminum, or a combination thereof, wherein the second element is present in an amount of 20 to 95 mole percent; and c) a third element comprising yttrium, a lanthanide element, actinide element, or a combination thereof in an amount of at least 3 mole percent and an optional alkaline earth element, wherein the third element is present in an amount of 3 to 50 mole percent, wherein the alloy composition is substantially free of transition metal, wherein each mole percent is based on a total number of moles of all elements in the alloy composition except lithium, and wherein an x-ray diffraction pattern of the alloy composition has broad peaks having a maximum width at half of the maximum peak height of at least 5 degrees two theta.