In the Li-ion technology, the diffusion of Li in the electrode is often limited by the quality of interfaces. Two synthetic approaches are proposed to develop the transition metal phosphides (TMP)/electrolyte interface. The first route consists in the preparation of nickel nanopowder by solution phase synthesis, and the second is based on the electrochemical synthesis of nickel nanorods in a template followed by vaporization of phosphorous. In the former, the nanosized metallic particles are foreseen to be used as starting nanomaterial to directly react with phosphorous agents (P or Li 3 P) during the cycling of the lithium battery. A preliminary electrochemical test of the NiP x nanorods/Li half-cell shows the feasibility of the use of such nanostructured TMP electrode in a Li battery.

Silicon nanomaterials are obtained by an original approach based on the direct solution phase oxidation of a solid state Zintl phase NaSi used as silicon precursor. Alcohols with different alkyl chains are chosen as oxidizing agents. The materials are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The most relevant parameter lies in the amorphous character of the silicon nanoparticles produced by this route. Amorphous nature of silicon is one of the key features for succeeding in the improvement of anodes for Li-ion batteries. The Si nanostructures have been tested as anodic materials for lithium ion batteries.