Patent ID: 8119288

Claim:
An exfoliated graphite-based hybrid composition for use as an electrochemical cell electrode, said composition comprising: a) micron- or nanometer-scaled particles or coating which are capable of absorbing and desorbing at least one of alkali or alkaline metal ions wherein said particles have a dimension less than 5 μm or said coating has a thickness less than 5 μm; and b) exfoliated graphite worms that are substantially interconnected to form a porous, conductive graphite network comprising pores, wherein at least one of said particles or coating resides in a pore of said network or attached to a worm of said network and the exfoliated graphite worm amount is in the range of 5% to 90% by weight and the amount of particles or coating is in the range of 95% to 10% by weight; wherein the particles or coating comprises an active material selected from the group consisting of: (i) silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), antimony (Sb), bismuth (Bi), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), and cadmium (Cd); (ii) alloys or intermetallic compounds of Si, Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, or Cd with other elements, wherein said alloys or compounds are stoichiometric or non-stoichiometric; (iii) oxides, carbides, nitrides, sulfides, phosphides, selenides, and tellurides of Ge, Sn, Pb, Sb, Bi, Zn, Al, Fe, or Cd, and their mixtures or composites; (iv) salts and hydroxides of Sn; and (v) combinations thereof; and wherein the composition provides a specific capacity of no less than 1,000 mAh per gram.