US Patent 10090513 Method of forming silicon

A method of forming a particulate material comprising silicon, the method comprising the step of reducing a particulate starting material comprising silica-containing particles having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1 and a smallest dimension of less than 15 microns, or reducing a particulate starting material comprising silica-containing particles comprising a plurality of elongate structural elements, each elongate structural element having an aspect ratio of at least 3:1 and a smallest dimension of less than 15 microns.