In addition, the particulate particles may include composite particles having a core-shell structure as well as primary particles (crystalline particles), agglomerated particles (secondary particles), amorphous particles, spherical particles, flake particles, needle-shaped particles, and the like.
Specifically, the particulate particles may be composite particles having a core-shell of a core of electrode active material and a shell of a heteromaterial, and the heteromaterial of the shell may include a second electrode active material, an electrode active material precursor, a conductive material, a conductive material precursor, a binder (first binder), or a mixture thereof.
The constitution of the shell which may include an electrode active material precursor or a conductive material precursor is for synthesis conversion of a material which may occur in the heat application process for forming a bulk, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. That is, when forming bulk of a raw material by applying heat, production of the conductive material or the electrode active material may be performed in-situ, and thus, composite particles of an electrode active material core and a precursor shell such as an electrode active material precursor or a conductive material precursor may be used in a particulate form.
As described above, though bulk formation of a raw material and material conversion of a precursor material may be carried out at the same time, if necessary, separate heat application for material conversion of a precursor material before or after bulk formation by molding or sintering may be also carried out, of course. Here, the electrode active material precursor may be a precursor of the same kind of electrode active material as the core or a precursor of an electrode active material different from the core (different kind).