This study focuses on the optimization of innovative composite materials Si/Intermetallic/Al/C used as negative electrode in lithium-ion batteries. The aim of this work is optimization of the composition for the material (20Ni-48Sn-20Si-3Al-9C) to improve its electrochemical performances. All materials are made up of silicon nanoparticles embedded in a sub micrometrical matrix. Several issues have been studied in this essay: optimization of the silicon and carbon contents, influence of the silicon surface composition, and substitution of the former intermetallic Ni3+xSn4 by other ones: zinc aluminium compound Al0,23Zn0,77 and two intermetallics Cu6Sn5 et CoSn. Metallic compounds and composites have been synthesised by powder metallurgy and mechanical alloying, respectively. Their chemical and structural properties have been determined by electron probe microanalysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Electrochemical characterisations have been carried out by galvanostatic cycling and cyclic voltammetry in coin and Swagelok half cells. This report details the influence of the studied parameters on the structural properties of the composite materials. A large study was devoted to the influence of carbon and silicon contents on the achievement of a homogeneous matrix, which is mandatory to get good electrochemical performances. Influence of the composition of silicon surface and intermetallic on the microstructure and electrochemical properties of the composites was also studied. Thus, we have shown that intermetallics reacting moderately with Si during mechanical alloying have better electrochemical properties. The best electrochemical properties have been obtained for the nominal composition Ni0.13Sn0.15Si0.26Al0.04C0.42. This material provides a reversible capacity of 650 mAh.g-1 during 1000 cycles. The use of carbon coated silicon improves the stability of the SEI during cycling even if this composite still has to be optimized
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