NOVELTY - The method comprises connecting (310) a starting material as a first electrode in a circuit comprising the first electrode and a counter electrode each of which is partially disposed (320) in a non-aqueous electrolyte that comprises metal counter ions such as lithium counter ions, and applying (330) a first voltage between the first electrode and the counter electrode to ionize a metal source of metal counter ions of the counter electrode to yield the metal counter ions, where some of the metal counter ions react with an electrochemically reactive material of the starting material.    USE - The method is useful for forming silicon nanoparticles or grains (claimed), which are useful for: manufacturing electronics such as consumer electronics, photovoltaic cells and semiconductors; batteries; catalytic converters; industrial scraps; and aerospace or automotive industries.    ADVANTAGE - The method is capable of efficiently and economically forming the nanoparticles with improved physical mechanical, chemical and/or biological properties, lightweight and high production rate thus manufacturing the electronics with reduced industrial wastes in an environmentally friendly manner.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - The method comprises connecting (310) a starting material as a first electrode in a circuit comprising the first electrode and a counter electrode each of which is partially disposed (320) in a non-aqueous electrolyte that comprises metal counter ions such as lithium counter ions, applying (330) a first voltage between the first electrode and the counter electrode to ionize a metal source of metal counter ions of the counter electrode to yield the metal counter ions, where some of the metal counter ions react with an electrochemically reactive material of the starting material in the first electrode to form a metal-electrochemically reactive material compound such as LixMy compound, where M is silicon, applying (340) a second voltage of opposite polarity to the first voltage to ionize the metal counter ions from the metal-electrochemically reactive material compound to recharge the counter electrode for producing (350) particles of the electrochemically reactive material of the starting material, carrying out the cycling process between the steps of applying the first voltage and second voltage until the electrochemically-active material forms grains or particles of a desired size, applying the first voltage to selectively react the counter ions with electrochemically reactive materials, applying the first voltage at a first magnitude to selectively recover a first electrochemically-active material, applying the first voltage at a second magnitude to selectively recover a second electrochemically-active material, separating (370) particles of the electrochemically reactive material from any unreacted material, and forming an alloy comprising the particles of the electrochemically reactive material and a portion of the starting material. The electrochemically reactive material of the starting material is present in pure form, and is electrochemically reactive to the metal counter ions at a voltage of 0.01-20 V. The starting material further comprises: pure material or waste material comprising the electrochemically reactive material; virgin material; and reclaimed, purified material. The source of the metal counter ions is a salt of the metal counter ion. The electrolyte comprises a solution of and a suspension of organic solvent and/or a salt of the metal counter ion. The first and second magnitudes are correlated to a reaction voltage of the first and second electrochemically reactive materials respectively, where the second magnitude is greater than the first magnitude. The metal-electrochemically reactive material compound increases 20 vol.% compared to a compound of the starting material. The step of cycling comprises a formation and a disassociation of the metal-electrochemically reactive material compound. The cycling generating internal stresses that result in a pulverization of the electrochemically reactive material. The particles of the electrochemically reactive material comprise particles of the metal-electrochemically reactive material compound. The particles or fine grains are formed in a surface layer of a bulk material. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for an apparatus for generating nanoparticles.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The diagram shows a flow chart of a method for forming particles.    Electrically connecting a starting material in a circuit (310)    Disposing first and counter electrodes in an electrolyte (320)    Applying a first voltage between first and counter electrodes (330)    Applying a second voltage between first and counter electrodes (340)    Producing particles (350)    Achieving a size of the particles (360)    Separating particles. (370)