Polymer electrolyte, intercalation compounds and electrodes for batteries

• US 20050181280A1
• Filed: 04/08/2005
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Aydinol, Mehmet K., Ceder, Gerbrand, Chiang, Yet-Ming, Sadoway, Donald R., Huang, Biying, Jang, Young-Il
• Application Number:
  US11/101,724
• Publication Number:
  US 20050181280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 429/231.100
• CPC Class Codes: C01B 13/14 Methods for preparing oxides or hydroxides in general particular individual oxides or hydroxides, see the relevant groups of subclasses C01B - C01G or C25B, according to the element combined with the oxygen or hydroxy group
• CPC Class Codes: C01D 15/02 Oxides; Hydroxides
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 45/1228 of the type [MnO2]n- , e.g. LiMnO2, Li[MxMn1-x]O2
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 51/42 containing alkali metals, e.g. LiCoO2
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 53/42 containing alkali metals, e.g. LiNiO2
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/02 Amorphous compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/08 Intercalated structures, i.e. with atoms or molecules intercalated in their structure
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/20 Two-dimensional structures
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/30 Three-dimensional structures
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/52 containing elements as dopants
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/54 one element only
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2004/04 obtained by TEM, STEM, STM or AFM
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/40 Electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/80 Compositional purity
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/122 Ionic conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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 10/0565 Polymeric materials, e.g. gel-type or solid-type
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0085 Immobilising or gelification of electrolyte
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0091 : in the form of mixtures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/13 : Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/131 : Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/133 : Electrodes based on carbonaceous material, e.g. graphite-intercalation compounds or CFx
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/362 : Composites
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/382 : Lithium H01M4/405 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/485 : of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence
• 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 4/624 : Electric conductive fillers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 : Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31 : Surface property or characteristic of web, sheet or block
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31935 : Ester, halide or nitrile of addition polymer

Abstract

Solid battery components are provided. A block copolymeric electrolyte is non-crosslinked and non-glassy through the entire range of typical battery service temperatures, that is, through the entire range of at least from about 0° C. to about 70° C. The chains of which the copolymer is made each include at least one ionically-conductive block and at least one second block immiscible with the ionically-conductive block. The chains form an amorphous association and are arranged in an ordered nanostructure including a continuous matrix of amorphous ionically-conductive domains and amorphous second domains that are immiscible with the ionically-conductive domains. A compound is provided that has a formula of Li_xM_yN_zO₂. M and N are each metal atoms or a main group elements, and x, y and z are each numbers from about 0 to about 1. y and z are chosen such that a formal charge on the M_yN_z portion of the compound is (4-x). In certain embodiments, these compounds are used in the cathodes of rechargeable batteries. The present invention also includes methods of predicting the potential utility of metal dichalgogenide compounds for use in lithium intercalation compounds. It also provides methods for processing lithium intercalation oxides with the structure and compositional homogeneity necessary to realize the increased formation energies of said compounds. An article is made of a dimensionally-stable, interpenetrating microstructure of a first phase including a first component and a second phase, immiscible with the first phase, including a second component. The first and second phases define interphase boundaries between them, and at least one particle is positioned between a first phase and a second phase at an interphase boundary. When the first and second phases are electronically-conductive and ionically-conductive polymers, respectively, and the particles are ion host particles, the arrangement is an electrode of a battery.

Claims

1. An electrochemical device comprising:

a first component comprising a composition having a formula Li_xM_yN_zO₂, wherein M is a metal atom or a main group element, N is a metal atom or a main group element, x, y and z are all numbers in the range of >

0 to about 1, and y and z are such that a formal charge on a M_yN_z portion of the compound is (4-x), provided that where one of M or N is Ni the other may not be Al, B or Sn, and further provided that where one of M or N is Co the other may not be Al, B, Sn, In, Si, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ti or P;

an electrically conductive material in electrical communication with the first component; and

a lithium ion conductive, dimensionally supportive matrix positioned to allow lithium ion communication with the first component.

2. An electrochemical device as in claim 1, wherein the composition has a formula LiNi_yMn_zO₂.

3. An electrochemical device of manufacture according to claim 1, the composition Li_xM_yN_zO₂ having a charging voltage of at least 2.5 V.

4. An electrochemical device of manufacture according to claim 1, the composition Li_xM_yN_zO₂ crystallizing in an α

-NaFeO₂, orthorhombic LiMnO₂ or tetragonal spinel Li₂Mn₂O₄ structure.

5. An electrochemical device of manufacture according to 1, wherein the first component is a cathode.

6. An electrochemical device of manufacture according to 1, wherein the electrically conductive material is carbon black.

7. An electrochemical device of manufacture according to 1, wherein the lithium ion conductive, dimensionally supportive matrix is a lithium ion conductive polymer.

13. An electrochemical device as in claim 1, wherein ion host material comprises an ion host particle, the article including a plurality of ion host particles in electronic communication with the electronically-conductive polymer and in ionic communication with the ionically-conductive polymer.

8. An electrochemical device as in 1, having a charging voltage of at least about 3.9 V.

9. An electrochemical device as in 1, having a charging voltage of at least about 4.0 V.

10. An electrochemical device as in 1, having an energy density of at least 100 Whr/kg.

11. An electrochemical device as in 1, wherein at least one of the electrically conductive material and the lithium ion conductive matrix is polymeric.

12. An electrochemical device as in claim 11, wherein each of the electrically conductive material and the lithium ion conductive matrix is polymeric.

14. An electrochemical device, comprising:

a first component comprising a mixed transition metal or main group lithium intercalation oxide comprising lithium, manganese, nickel, and cobalt;

an electrically conductive material in electrical communication with the first component; and

a lithium ion conductive, dimensionally supportive matrix positioned to allow lithium ion communication with the first component.

15. The electrochemical device of claim 14, wherein the first component further comprises aluminum.

16. An electrochemical device, comprising:

a first component comprising a lithium intercalation compound having a formula Li_xM_yN_zO₂, wherein M is Ni and N is Co, wherein the lithium intercalation compound is doped with Mn;

an electrically conductive material in electrical communication with the first component; and

a lithium ion conductive, dimensionally supportive matrix positioned to allow lithium ion communication with the first component.

17. The electrochemical device of claim 16, wherein the first component further comprises aluminum.