We consider a silicon nanopowder based anode for a lithium ion battery cell. We present the design of the battery cell ready for in situ Raman and X-ray experiments and a technical procedure for the cell manufacturing. From the continuum mechanics point of view, this type of anode can be represented by a spherical nanoparticle surrounded by viscoelastic matrix. During the charging process this nanoparticle undergoes a chemical reaction. Based on the chemical affinity concept we describe how the mechanical properties of the matrix material influence the kinetics of the charging process. We study spherically symmetry problems numerically for different sets of matrix material parameters and show their influence on the reaction front kinetics.