METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING NANOMETER SCALE PARTICLES FOR ENERGY STORAGE MATERIALS UTILIZING AN ELECTROSTERICALLY STABILIZED SLURRY IN A MEDIA MILL

Disclosed herein are methods and apparatus for producing nanometer scale particles for electrochemical materials utilizing an electrosterically stabilized slurry in a media mill. The method includes adding to a media mill a feed substrate suspension including a liquid carrier medium and electrochemical feed substrate particles. The method further includes adding to the feed substrate suspension in the media mill an electrosteric dispersant that includes a polyelectrolyte. Still further, the method includes operating the media mill for a period of time to comminute the feed substrate particles, thereby forming nanometer scale particles having a (D) particle size of less than about one micron, and recirculating for further grinding the nanometer scale particles from the media mill.