SILICON-CONTAINING NEGATIVE ELECTRODES, ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS, AND METHODS OF MAKING THE SAME

A negative electrode is provided herein as well as methods for preparing negative electrodes and electrochemical cells including the negative electrode. The negative electrode includes a first electroactive material, an electrically conductive material, and a polymeric binder. The first electroactive material includes silicon-containing particles having an average particle diameter of at least about 1 μm, and the electrically conductive material includes graphene nanoplatelets. The polymeric binder includes a polyimide, a polyamide, polyacrylonitrile, polyacrylic acid, a salt of polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, or a combination thereof