SODIUM CARBON METATITANATE HEART-SHELL PARTICLES, THEIR PREPARATION PROCESSES, AND THEIR USES

Abstract

The present invention relates to sodium-carbon metatitanate core-shell particles, their preparation methods, and their uses as an active anode material in sodium-ion batteries. (no figure)

Description

Title of the invention: SODIUM CARBON METATITANATE HEART-SHELL PARTICLES, THEIR PREPARATION METHODS, AND THEIR USES

[0001] The present invention relates to sodium-carbon metatitanate core-shell particles, their preparation methods, and their uses as an active anode material for sodium-ion batteries.

[0002] With growing concerns about climate change in recent years, the focus has shifted towards transitioning from fossil fuel-based energy to renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power. The intermittency of these sources inevitably necessitates energy storage. In this new era of renewable resources, energy storage in the form of stationary batteries is as important as the solar / wind farms themselves, and their performance as an integrated system generally determines their market success. In this regard, the cost of these grid-tied batteries is, and will continue to be, the most decisive factor.Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), which represent the state of the art and easily surpass other traditional battery technologies in terms of performance, are not suitable for grid applications due to the limited availability of lithium reserves. Furthermore, concerns about the future price of lithium, particularly as demand increases due to the rapid growth in demand for lithium-ion batteries for applications such as electric vehicles, necessitate an alternative battery technology that does not rely on lithium but offers performance comparable to that of lithium-ion batteries.

[0003] In this respect, sodium-ion batteries (NIBs) are very well suited since they have the same operating principle as LIBs, and recent reports suggest that they can rival or even surpass LIBs in terms of performance. The switch to NIBs would be logical since sodium is very abundant and a sodium-based battery technology would therefore be much less expensive than a lithium-based technology.

[0004] NIBs, like LIBs, require a cathode material capable of inserting / disinserting sodium ions at a high potential, and an anode material capable of doing the same at low potentials.

[0005] In this context, sodium metatitanate (Na2Ti3O7) is a promising anode material, as it has several significant advantages for the preparation of active anode materials in sodium-ion batteries.

[0006] First, Na2TisO? is the insertion electrode material having the lowest sodium ion insertion potential described, with a plateau region around 0.3 V, with an average discharge voltage in the range (0.01 - 2.5 V vs. Na+ / Na).

[0007] Sodium metatitanate also offers excellent chemical and thermal stability. This stability is crucial for sodium-ion batteries, as it allows the anodes to operate efficiently over a wide range of temperatures and chemical conditions, thereby increasing battery durability and reliability.

[0008] Furthermore, this material possesses a good theoretical capacity for storing sodium ions. The crystalline structure of sodium metatitanate allows for efficient insertion and extraction of sodium ions, resulting in a high energy density. This is essential for improving the autonomy of devices powered by these batteries, such as electric vehicles and renewable energy storage systems.

[0009] Furthermore, sodium metatitanate is abundant and economical. First, compared to lithium, and as mentioned above, sodium is much more readily available in the Earth's crust and less expensive to extract and process. This abundance and low cost can reduce the production costs of sodium-ion batteries, making this technology more accessible and sustainable. And sodium metatitanate itself can be synthesized by a simple, large-scale solid-state method.

[0010] Finally, sodium metatitanate has a high density (e.g. tapped) compared to carbon, thus allowing the increase in volumetric capacity.

[0011] Coating sodium metatitanate with carbon offers additional advantages. Carbon coatings improve the electrical conductivity of the anode, resulting in better overall battery performance. Furthermore, carbon can protect the sodium metatitanate from undesirable reactions with the electrolyte, thereby increasing the stability and lifespan of the anode. Carbon coatings can also improve the mechanical strength of the anode, reducing the risk of structural degradation during charge and discharge cycles.

[0012] However, sodium metatitanate generally has a low initial coulombic efficiency of the first cycle and the electrode requires a high amount of Super P, usually tested with 20% Super P, as a conductive additive.

[0013] Besides this low coulombic efficiency, such a quantity of additive has the effect of increasing the proportion of inactive material in a deleterious way, whether from an economic and industrial point of view.

[0014] One objective of the invention is thus the development of an active anode material for a sodium-ion battery enabling: - improved initial capacity and coulombic efficiency, - improved cycling performance, particularly with regard to the initial coulombic efficiency of the first cycle, and - to improve battery life.

[0015] Another objective of the invention is to design such a material using a robust, repeatable process, making it possible in particular to obtain the outer layer of the invention in a homogeneous manner, with a thickness that is also homogeneous and controllable.

[0016] Yet another objective of the invention is to design materials which, when used as active electrode materials, reduce the amount of additives, in particular conductive additives, thereby reducing the proportion of inactive material, which is advantageous from an economic and industrial point of view.

[0017] Thus, the invention relates to a particle consisting of or comprising a core (A) consisting of or comprising sodium metatitanate, and, in contact with it, a layer (B) consisting of or comprising carbon,

[0018] said particle having a specific surface area less than 20 m2.g *.

[0019] Surprisingly, the outer layer of the invention comprising the carbon has such strong adhesion to the NTO core that the use of conductive additives, such as Super P, is greatly reduced, in particular to 5% by mass or less.

[0020] In addition, the nature and construction of the particles of the invention minimizes irreversible capacity losses, particularly during the first cycle.

[0021] The specific surface area can be measured by any technique well known to those skilled in the art, in particular by a gas adsorption analysis method described by Brunauer, Emmett and Teller (BET), using for example dinitrogen as the adsorbate.

[0022] The particle of the invention can also be called a core / shell type particle, in which the core (A) is surrounded by a shell being the layer (B).

[0023] According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a particle comprising a core (A) comprising sodium metatitanate, and, in contact with it, a layer (B) comprising carbon,

[0024] said particle having a specific surface area less than 20 m2.g *.

[0025] According to a particular embodiment, the largest dimension is less than 15pm, in particular less than 1Opm, more particularly less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or Ipm.

[0026] According to a particular embodiment, the shell has a thickness between 1 and 100 nm, in particular between 5 and 20, 30 or 40 nm.

[0027] According to a particular embodiment, the mass of carbon represents from 0.5 to 20 or 25%, in particular between 1 and 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15%, by mass, relative to the total mass of said particle.

[0028] According to a particular embodiment, the carbon is at least partially organized, for example in the form of graphene.

[0029] The presence of more or less organized carbon can be detected by any technique well known to those skilled in the art, in particular by RAMAN spectroscopy.

[0030] According to a particular embodiment, the invention relates to a particle having a specific surface area of ​​less than 15 m2.g', in particular less than 10 m2.g', in particular less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 m2.g*.

[0031] According to a particular embodiment, the value of its specific surface area is less than 300% of the value of the specific surface area of ​​a particle made up of said core, for example less than 250, 200, 150, 140, 130, 120, 110, 105 or 100%.

[0032] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a powder made up of or comprising a plurality of particles as defined above.

[0033] The embodiments defined above with regard to the particles of the invention also apply here, alone or in combination.

[0034] According to a particular embodiment, the particle size distribution value D90 is less than 15pm, in particular less than 1Opm, more particularly less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or Ipm.

[0035] The D90 particle size distribution value can be measured by any technique well known to those skilled in the art, for example by dynamic light scattering, or with the aid of a laser particle analyzer.

[0036] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a method for preparing particles as defined above, or a powder as defined above, which includes a step (i) of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a layer made of or comprising carbon on particles made of or comprising sodium metatitanate.

[0037] The embodiments defined above with respect to the particles or powder of the invention also apply here, alone or in combination.

[0038] According to a particular embodiment, step (i) is carried out at a temperature of 500 to 800°C.

[0039] According to a particular embodiment, step (i) is carried out for 30 minutes to 12 hours, in particular for 1 to 6 hours.

[0040] According to a particular embodiment, step (i) is carried out at a temperature of 500 to 800°C, for 30 minutes to 12 hours, in particular for 1 to 6 hours, for example at about 800°C for about 3 hours, or at about 600°C for about 6 hours.

[0041] According to a particular embodiment, said temperature is reached after a temperature rise carried out at a rate of between 1 and 10°C / min, preferably of about 5°C / min.

[0042] According to a particular embodiment, step (i) is carried out under an inert atmosphere, in particular under argon, dinitrogen, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide or mixtures thereof, or under vacuum.

[0043] Nitrogen gas, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide and mixtures thereof are capable of enabling, if desired, the doping of carbon with nitrogen and / or sulfur.

[0044] According to a particular embodiment, step (i) is carried out in the presence of a carbon source, in particular a gaseous carbon source, for example chosen from acetylene, ethylene, propylene, methane, and mixtures thereof.

[0045] Said gaseous source is for example used at a flow rate of between 0.1 and 3 l / hour.

[0046] According to a particular embodiment, said particles or said powder are obtained by hydrothermal synthesis or by solid phase synthesis.

[0047] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to the use of particles as defined above, or of a powder as defined above, for the preparation of an anode, in particular a sodium-ion accumulator anode.

[0048] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to an anode composition, in particular a sodium-ion accumulator anode, comprising as active material particles as defined above, or a powder as defined above, and further comprising at least one conductive agent, for example super P, in particular up to 5% by mass, and / or at least one binder.

[0049] The conductive agent can be chosen from among those well known to those skilled in the art, particularly from among the standard conductive additives in the lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery industry, especially those based on graphitized carbon black. Examples include Super P (TIMCAL graphite and carbon), Denka acetylene black (DENKA), and Ketjenblack EC300 high-surface conductive carbon black (AkzoNobel).

[0050] The binder can be chosen as one well known to those skilled in the art, in particular from among the standard binders in the lithium-ion or sodium-ion battery industry. ion, for example polyvinilydene fluoride (PVDF), especially in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP).

[0051] According to another aspect, the invention also relates to a sodium-ion accumulator comprising an anode comprising as active material particles as defined above or a powder as defined above.

[0052] The embodiments defined above with respect to the particles or powder of the invention also apply here, alone or in combination. DEFINITIONS

[0053] As understood here, value ranges in the form of "xy" or "from x to y" or "between x and y" include the bounds x and y, as well as the integers and all real numbers between these bounds. For example, "1-5" or "from 1 to 5" refers in particular to the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Preferred embodiments include each integer taken individually within the value range, as well as any subcombination of these integers. For example, preferred values ​​for "1-5" may include the integers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 2-3, 2-4, 2-5, etc.

[0054] As used in this description, the term "approximately" refers to a range of values ​​within ±10% of a specific value. For example, the expression "approximately 20" includes values ​​within 20 ±10%, that is, values ​​from 18 to 22.

[0055] For the purposes of this description, percentages refer to percentages by mass relative to the total mass of the formulation, unless otherwise specified. FIGURES

[0056] Fig. 1 shows a high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) image of the NTO-3h-700°C sample.

[0057] Fig. 2 shows: (a) the evolution of the coating thickness as a function of temperature for a constant deposition time of 3 hours for commercial NTO; (b) the evolution of the coating thickness as a function of deposition time at a fixed temperature of 700°C for commercial NTO.

[0058] Fig. 3 illustrates the initial charge-discharge profiles for the first cycle of commercial uncoated (reference outside invention) and carbon-coated NTO samples according to temperature and deposition time (invention), as well as their long-term stability and coulombic efficiency over 50 cycles; with: a), b) and c) for the effect of temperature; and d), e) and f) for the effect of deposition time.

[0059] Figure 4 shows (a) the initial charge-discharge profiles for the first (a) cycle of uncoated (reference outside the invention) and coated (invention) synthesized (solid-state) NTO samples, (b) their corresponding long-term cycling stabilities, and (c) coulombic efficiencies up to 50 cycles, (d) the coulombic efficiencies of the coated commercial NTO and of two examples of NTOs from the literature (Shiyou Li, Shuxiang, Wen, Hao Ding, Li Yang, Dongni Zhao, Ningshuang Zhang, Hong Dong, Shimin Wang, Jingjing Zhang and Jie Wang, “Improve the Electrochemical Performance of Na2Ti3O7 Nanorod through Pitch Coating”, ACS Sustain. Chem. Eng., vol. 10, no. 13, p. 4247-4257, Apr. 2022; J. Hwang, H. Setiadi Cahyadi, W. Chang, and J. Kim, “Uniform and ultrathin carbon-layer coated layered Na2Ti3O7 and tunnel Na2Ti60i3 hybrid with enhanced electrochemical performance for anodes in sodium ion batteries”, J. Supercrit. Fluids. vol. 148, p. 116-129, Jun. 2019) as a function of specific surface area.

[0060] Fig. 5 shows the XRD diagrams of commercial (a) and synthesized (b) NTO before and after coating formation (example 1). EXAMPLES

[0061] Example 1: Synthesis and characterization of particles of the invention

[0062] Synthesis

[0063] Two types of sodium metatitanate (NTO) were used in the examples: a commercially available NTO (Sigma-Aldrich) and an NTO obtained by a solid-state synthesis method.

[0064] For this mechanosynthesis, appropriate masses of NaOH and TiO2 anatase were mixed in a ball mill with cyclohexane as a solvent. The mixture was ground for 4 hours at 400 rpm and then dried overnight. The resulting powder was then calcined in air at 800°C for 24 hours to obtain the final product.

[0065] Synthesis of carbon-coated NTO: The powder obtained, whether commercial NTO or synthesized as described above, was coated with carbon by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) process. For this purpose, acetylene gas, used as a carbon precursor, was thermally decomposed in a horizontal or vertical furnace. The sample was placed in a quartz vessel and heated at a rate of 5°C / min to 500, 600, 700, or 800°C under ambient pressure in an inert argon atmosphere. Once the target temperature was reached, the argon flow was stopped, and acetylene was introduced into the system at a rate of 1 L / h for 1, 3, or 6 hours. The samples thus obtained (From commercial NTO: NTO-3h-600°C, NTO-3h-700°C, NTO-6h-600°C, NTO-6h-700°C and NTO-3h-800°C; from synthesized NTO: synthesized NTO-6h-600°C) were then cooled to room temperature under argon.

[0066] Characterization of the materials obtained: operating procedures

[0067] To determine the amount of carbon deposited, a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed using a Mettler Toledo instrument. The sample was heated in an alumina (Al2O3) crucible under air, from 25 to 800°C at a heating rate of 5°C min*. The mass loss by carbon oxidation allows the weight percentage of carbon to be determined.

[0068] The crystalline structure of the materials was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) on a Bruker D8 ADVANCE A25 theta / theta geometry diffractometer (goniometer radius: 280 mm), equipped with a high-resolution 1D LYNXEYE XE-T detector with energy discrimination (<380 eV, Cu Kal,2) and operating with a Cu Kal,2 X-ray source. A motorized anti-scattering knife for effective suppression of low-angle air scattering is included. Samples are prepared in a standard poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) sample holder by creating a powder pyramid which is flattened using a glass slide. The acquisition conditions were as follows: angular range 10–90°2θ, counting step size: 0.01°, counting time per step size: 0.5 s. The total acquisition time was 1 hour and 8 minutes. During this acquisition, the sample was rotated at 5 rpm. The software used was DIFFRAC.SUITE, DIFFRAC.EVA ensures the processing of diffractograms and the calculation of the interplanar distance d(hkl) (distance between two consecutive planes of the same index (hkl)) is obtained by simple application of Bragg's law (2d(hkl) sin0= nX) where n is an integer (in the case of this work, n=l), X is the wavelength, and 0 is the angle of incidence of the X-ray beam on the plane under diffraction conditions of index (hkl).

[0069] XRD diagrams were recorded in a range of 20 from 8° to 80°. The morphology, structure and thickness of the coating layer comprising the carbon was determined using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) in three distinct areas of the materials, with a JEOL instrument (model ARM-200F) operating at 200 kV.

[0070] The specific surface area (SSA) and pore size distribution were determined using a Micromeritics AS AP 2420 instrument with N2 as the adsorbent gas (77 K). The SSA value was determined based on the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model from the linear plot.

[0071] Before analysis, the materials were degassed at 300°C for 12 hours under vacuum on the degassing gate to remove water molecules, and a second degassing was then performed for an additional 2 hours on the analysis gate to remove the filler gas. A mass between 150 and 300 mg was used. The BET (Brunauer, Emmett, and Teller) specific surface area was calculated within the relative pressure range of 0.05–0.3. Results

[0072] XRD analyses of all the samples described above were carried out. The XRD diagrams of the commercial and synthesized NTOs show that the main crystallographic structure was not influenced by the carbon coating, and all samples exhibit the same Bragg peaks before and after the formation of the coating ([Fig.5]).

[0073] HRTEM was used to analyze the carbon layer, with results shown in [Fig. 1]. The images obtained, particularly that of [Fig. 1], reveal a homogeneous distribution of the carbon layer around the particles, with thicknesses observed under different conditions, as follows: 5.5 nm for the sample coated for 3 h at 500°C, 6.5 nm for the sample coated for 3 h at 600°C, 12 nm for the sample coated for 6 h at 600°C, 7.5 nm for the sample coated for 1 h at 700°C, 19 nm for the sample coated for 3 h at 700°C, and 39 nm for the sample coated for 6 h at 700°C, and finally 37.5 nm for the sample coated for 3 h at 800°C.

[0074] The synthesized NTO coated at 600°C for 6h to a thickness of 17nm.

[0075] The evolution of the thickness of the carbon coating as a function of temperature and deposition time is illustrated in [Fig.2]. This thickness increases with time, as well as with temperature.

[0076] Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was performed in air, from 25°C to 800°C, to determine the amount of carbon deposited. Materials coated with commercial or synthetic NTO were analyzed. The mass loss measured between 400°C and 600°C corresponds to the oxidation of the carbon layer on the coated samples, and therefore allows the amount of carbon deposited (between 1.5 and 12.1 wt.%), to be quantified, as shown in Table 1 below:

[0077] [Tables 1] NTO-3h -500°C NTO-3h -600°C NTO-3h -700°C NTO-3h -800°C NTO-6h -600°C NTO-lh -700°C NTO-6h -700°C NTO-synth se-6h-600°C Carbon deposited (%) 1.5 4.2 6.6 12.7 8.2 2.7 12.1 5.5

[0078] The N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms were determined for all the materials described above. As shown in Table 2, commercial NTO exhibited an increase in BET surface area for samples coated at 500°C (for 3 hours) or 600°C (for 3 or 6 hours), increasing from 3.1 m² / g to 4.6 m² / g, 7.2 m² / g, and 9.2 m² / g, respectively. For samples coated at 700°C for 1h, 3h, or 6h, the BET surface area remained more or less constant. A decrease in the BET SSA value was observed for the sample coated for 3h. at 800°C. In addition, the synthesized NTO showed a slight increase in specific surface area (SSA) after coating, from 4.2 m2 / g to 5.3 m2 / g.

[0079] [Tables2] NTO commercial (reference outside the invention) NTO-3h-50 0°C (inv.) NTO-3h-60 0°C (inv.) NTO-6h-60 0°C (inv.) NTO-lh-70 o°c (inv.) NTO-3h-70 0°C (inv.) NTO-6h-70 0°C (inv.) NTO-3h-80 0°C (inv.) NTO-synthesis (reference outside invention) NTO-synthesis-6 h-600°C (inv.) Surface area eBET (m2 / g) 3.1 4.6 7.2 9.2 3.2 3.1 2.9 1.5 4.2 5.3 Example 2#: Electrochemical characterizations Protocols

[0080] To test the electrochemical performance of the materials of the invention, electrodes were prepared with these materials as the active material.

[0081] To this end, a suspension containing 90% active material, 5% Super P conductive additive, and a 5% solution of polyvinilydene fluoride (PVDF) in N-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) as a binder was prepared. This thick suspension was then coated onto aluminum foil and dried at 55°C overnight. Electrodes 14 mm in diameter were cut from the aluminum foil. A button cell was assembled in a glove box under an argon atmosphere, using metallic sodium as the reference and counter electrode. A CELGARD® 2400 membrane was used as a separator, and a VILEDON® membrane was used for electrolyte accessibility. The electrolyte used is a preparation consisting of a 1 M NaPF6 solution in a 1:1 volume of ethylene carbonate (EC) with dimethyl carbonate (DMC) with the addition of 2% by weight of fluoroethylene carbonate (FEC).

[0082] The button cells thus obtained were tested in a galvanostatic cycling test using an Arbin Instruments setup operating with MITS PRO software. The button cells were cycled at C / 10 for the first five cycles, then at IC for the remainder of the cycle. At the end of each discharge, the cell was set to a float stage at a constant voltage of 10 mV. The charge and discharge cycles took place between 0.01 and 2.5 V with respect to Na7Na. Three cells were tested for each sample. Results

[0083] The electrochemical performances of coated (invention) and uncoated (references outside the invention) NTO samples are shown in Figures 3 and 4. The charge-discharge profiles of coated and uncoated commercial NTO are shown in [Fig. 3], along with long-term stability and coulombic efficiency over 50 cycles. Uncoated commercial NTO exhibits poor electrochemical performance, with an initial capacitance of approximately 45 mAh.g⁻¹ during the first cycle and a low coulombic efficiency of 23%. After only five cycles, the capacitance drops to nearly 0 mAh.g⁻¹, likely due to poor electronic conductivity. In contrast, the coated commercial NTO of the invention shows a significant improvement in initial capacitance, ranging from 124 to 128 mAh.g⁻¹, with a coulombic efficiency between 60 and 66%. The coating also improves long-term cycle stability.

[0084] For the synthesized NTO ([Fig. 4]), the uncoated material outperforms the commercial reference (virgin) material, with an initial capacitance of approximately 110 mAh.g⁻¹ and a coulombic efficiency of 58%. After coating, the initial capacitance increases from 110 to 141 mAh.g⁻¹, with a coulombic efficiency of 67%, and exhibits better stability over 50 cycles compared to the uncoated synthesized NTO. Without limiting ourselves to any particular theory, these results indicate that the carbon coating on the surface of the NTO effectively prevents direct contact between the electrode and the electrolyte, thus mitigating the rapid decomposition of the electrolyte and improving the overall electrochemical performance of the NTO. The electronic conductivity of the carbon also improves electron percolation, contributing to better capacitance retention.

[0085] Furthermore, the process of the invention makes it possible to maintain a significantly low specific surface area while improving the initial coulombic efficiency compared to the literature, as shown in [Fig.4](d), highlighting the important role of the specific surface area in optimizing the initial coulombic efficiency.

Claims

Demands

1. Particle consisting of or comprising a core (A) consisting of or comprising sodium metatitanate, and, in contact therewith, a layer (B) consisting of or comprising carbon, said particle having a specific surface area of ​​less than 20 m2.g'.

2. Particle according to claim 1, the largest dimension of which is less than 15pm, in particular less than 1Opm, more particularly less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2 or Ipm.

3. Particle according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein: - the shell has a thickness of between 1 and 100 nm, in particular between 5 and 20, 30 or 40 nm; and / or - the mass of carbon represents from 0.5 to 20 or 25%, in particular between 1 and 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 or 15%, by mass, relative to the total mass of said particle.

4. Particle according to any one of the preceding claims, having a specific surface area less than 15 m².g', in particular less than 10 m².g', in particular less than 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3 or 2 m' a 1

5. m .g . Particle preparation method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein it comprises a step (i) of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of a layer made of or comprising carbon on particles made of or comprising sodium metatitanate.

6. A method according to claim 5, wherein step (i) is carried out at a temperature of 500 to 800°C, and / or for 30 minutes to 12 hours, in particular for 1 to 6 hours.

7. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 6, wherein step (i) is carried out under an inert atmosphere, in particular under argon, nitrogen, ammonia, hydrogen sulfide or mixtures thereof, or under vacuum.

8. A method according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein step (i) is carried out in the presence of a carbon source, in particular a gaseous carbon source, for example selected from acetylene, ethylene, propylene, methane, and mixtures thereof.

9. A process according to any one of claims 5 to 8, wherein said particles or powder are obtained by hydrothermal synthesis or by solid-phase synthesis.

10. Use of particles according to any one of claims 1 to 4 for the preparation of an anode, in particular a sodium-ion accumulator anode.

11. Anode composition, in particular sodium-ion accumulator anode, comprising as active material particles according to any one of claims 1 to 4, and further comprising at least one conductive agent, in particular up to 5% by mass, and / or at least one binder.

12. Sodium-ion accumulator comprising an anode comprising as active material particles according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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