Method for producing lithium ion cell active material particles

• US 10,454,110 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Issued: 10/22/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Toray Industries Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Toray Industries Incorporated
• Inventors: Kawamura, Hiroaki, Tabayashi, Miyuki, Kubota, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Soliman, Haytham
• Application Number:
  US15/317,567
• Publication Number:
  US 20170125812A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,604 Days
• Field of Search: 423306
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 25/45 containing plural metal, or metal and ammonium
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 53/00 Compounds of nickel
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 53/50 of the type [MnO2]n- , e.g. Li(NixMn1-x)O2, Li(MyNixMn1-x-y)O2
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/40 Electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/0525 Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/028 Positive electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/505 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/525 of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/5825 Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

A method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery, the method including steps of: flowing a plurality of raw material solutions into respective raw material-feeding channels under a pressure of 0.3 to 500 MPa, the solutions being capable of inducing a chemical reaction when mixed, thereby producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery or an active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery; and mixing the plurality of raw material solutions at a junction of the raw material-feeding channels to induce the chemical reaction, thereby continuously producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery or producing an active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery.

Claims

1. A method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery, the method comprising steps of:

flowing a plurality of raw material solutions into respective raw material-feeding channels under a pressure of 0.3 to 500 MPa, the solutions being capable of inducing a chemical reaction when mixed, thereby producing an active material particle of LiMPO₄, wherein M is one or more members selected from Fe, Co, Mn and Ni, for a lithium ion battery;

wherein the plurality of raw material solutions is temperature-adjusted before mixing to a temperature from 60°

C. to 120°

C.; and

mixing the plurality of raw material solutions at a junction of the raw material-feeding channels to induce the chemical reaction, thereby continuously producing the active material particle for a lithium ion battery.

2. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein a channel diameter immediately before the junction of the raw material-feeding channels is from 0.05 to 3 mm.

3. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein, near the junction of the raw material-feeding channels, a turbulent flow is imparted to the raw material solutions after joining.

4. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein the chemical reaction includes a neutralization reaction.

5. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein a solvent of the raw material solution is a coordinating solvent.

6. A method for producing a cathode active material particle for a lithium ion battery, wherein, in the method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, the plurality of raw material solutions includes a first raw material solution containing a lithium compound and a second raw material solution containing a transition metal.