TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The composite particles comprise second particles in which Ni, Ni1-xPx or Ni1-xBx is partially or completely deposited on surface(s) of other of first particles. The composite particles comprise second particles in which Ni is partially or completely deposited on surface(s) of other of first particles. The composite particles are formed in island shapes among the first particles. The composite particles constitute less than or equal to 50% of the total number of the first particles. The composite particles constitute about 10% to about 30% of the total number of the first particles. The second particles of the composite particles have an average diameter of about 40 nm to about 400 nm. The amount of the second particles of composite particles is about 3 to about 30 atomic percent (at%). The first particles have a median particle diameter (D50) of about 0.1 mu m to about 10 mu m. The first particles have a composition of formula x'Si-yTi-zNi (I).x=0.1-0.3;x'=50 at% to 80 at%;y=5 at% to 30 at%;z=5 at% to 30 at%;orx+y+z=100 at%.Preferred Method: The step of preparing the composite particle is performed by physical vapor deposition, chemical vapor deposition, electroplating, or electroless plating. The step of heat treating of the composite particles is performed at a temperature of 300 degrees C to about 600 degrees C.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - METALLURGY - Preferred Components: The first particles are crystalline alloy particles. EXAMPLE - A powder-type 68 at% Si-16 at% Ti-16 at% Ni alloy that had been passed through a 325-mesh sieve was purified in a solution of H2O2:NH4OH mixed at a molar ratio of 1:1 and washed with distilled water to prepare powder-type alloy particles, i.e. first particles. Subsequently, nickel was coated on surfaces of the first particles by using a plating solution prepared by adding 0.05M NiSO4 and 0.02M NH4OH until the pH reached 9.6 by electroless plating at 55 degrees C for 45 minutes to prepare composite particles comprised of second particles. Then, the prepared composite particles were washed with distilled water and heat treated in a vacuum atmosphere of 10-5 torr at 350 degrees C for 1 hour, thereby completing the preparation of a negative active material (test). The negative active material included first particles and composite particles comprised of second particles in which Ni was partially or completely coated on surface(s) of other of first particles. A control material comprising powder-type 68 at% Si-16 at% Ti-16 at% Ni alloy that had been passed through a 325-mesh sieve was prepared in a similar manner as the test material. The test material was used in the manufacture of lithium batteries (A). A comparative coin-type half cell (A1) was manufactured by using the control negative active material. The lithium batteries (A)/half cell (A1) were evaluated for discharge capacity at 1st cycle, discharge capacity at 50th cycle and capacity retention rate. The results for (A)/(A1) were: discharge capacity at 1st cycle = 2325/1584 mAh/g, discharge capacity at 50th cycle = 1695/1098 mAh/g, and capacity retention rate = 72.9/69.3%.