LITHIUM-BASED MATERIALS AND METHODS OF FORMING THE SAME

• US 20110044886A1
• Filed: 10/26/2010
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: EnerDel, Inc. (Ener1, Inc.)
• Inventors: Volkov, Oleg, Gorshkov, Vadim
• Granted Patent: US 8,052,955 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 423/598
• CPC Class Codes: C01G 23/005 Alkali titanates
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/72 by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2002/77 by unit-cell parameters, atom positions or structure diagrams
• CPC Class Codes: C01P 2006/40 Electric properties
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Lithium-based materials and methods of forming the same. In at least one embodiment of a method of forming a lithium-based material of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of combining a first quantity of a first lithium-based component and a second quantity of a second lithium-based component with a titanium-based component to form a mixture, the first lithium-based component having a first melting point and the second lithium-based component having a second melting point higher than the first melting point of the first lithium-based component, and heating the mixture to a first temperature above the first melting point but below the second melting point for a period of time to form a resultant end product.

Claims

13. A method of forming a lithium-based material, comprising the steps of:

combining a first quantity of a first lithium-based component and a second quantity of a second lithium-based component with a titanium-based component to form a mixture, the first lithium-based component having a first melting point and the second lithium-based component having a second melting point higher than the first melting point of the first lithium-based component;

heating the mixture to a first temperature below the first melting point and the second melting point and maintaining the mixture at the first temperature for a first period of time;

heating the mixture to a second temperature above the first melting point but below the second melting point and maintaining the mixture at the second temperature for a second period of time; and

heating the mixture to a third temperature above the first melting point and the second melting point and maintaining the mixture at the third temperature for a third period of time to form a resultant end product.

1. A method of forming a lithium-based material, comprising the steps of:

combining a first quantity of a first lithium-based component and a second quantity of a second lithium-based component with a titanium-based component to form a mixture, the first lithium-based component having a first melting point and the second lithium-based component having a second melting point higher than the first melting point of the first lithium-based component; and

heating the mixture to a first temperature above the first melting point but below the second melting point for a period of time to form a resultant end product.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

cooling the a resultant end product.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lithium-based component comprises lithium hydroxide and wherein the second lithium-based component comprises lithium carbonate.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first quantity of lithium hydroxide is greater than the second quantity of lithium carbonate.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lithium-based component and the second lithium-based component are selected from the group consisting of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium oxide, and combinations thereof.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the titanium-based component is selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide and titanium dioxide.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first lithium-based component comprises lithium hydroxide, and wherein the first temperature is above about 450°

C. but below about 726°

C.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the resultant end product is formed by way of a liquid-solid reaction between the first lithium-based component and the titanium-based component and by way of a solid-solid reaction between the second lithium-based component and the titanium-based component.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the liquid-solid reaction occurs at a faster rate than the solid-solid reaction.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the combining step is performed in a ceramic reactor, and wherein the heating step is performed in a muffle furnace.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the resultant end product comprises a lithium titanate.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the lithium titanate has the formula:

Li₄Ti₅O_12-x

wherein x is greater than 0.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of:

cooling the a resultant end product.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the first lithium-based component comprises lithium hydroxide and wherein the second lithium-based component comprises lithium carbonate.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first quantity of lithium hydroxide is greater than the second quantity of lithium carbonate.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein the first lithium-based component and the second lithium-based component are selected from the group consisting of lithium carbonate, lithium hydroxide, lithium oxide, and combinations thereof.

18. The method of claim 13, wherein the titanium-based component is selected from the group consisting of titanium oxide and titanium dioxide.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein the first temperature is below 450°

C., the second temperature is between about 450°

C. but below about 726°

C., and wherein the third temperature is above 726°

C.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first temperature is about 150°

C., and wherein the second temperature is about 950°

C.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein the first period of time, the second period of time, and the third period of time are each about two hours.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein the resultant end product is formed by way of a liquid-solid reaction between the first lithium-based component and the titanium-based component and by way of a liquid-solid reaction between the second lithium-based component and the titanium-based component.

25. A lithium-based material prepared using the method set forth in claim 1.

26. A lithium-based material prepared using the method set forth in claim 13.

22-1. The method of claim 13, wherein the resultant end product comprises a lithium titanate.

23. The method of claim 23, wherein the lithium titanate has the formula:

Li₄Ti₅O_12-x

wherein x is greater than 0.

24. A method of forming a lithium-based material, comprising the steps of:

combining a first quantity of lithium hydroxide component and a second quantity of lithium carbonate with a titanium-based component to form a mixture;

heating the mixture to a first temperature above a melting point of the lithium hydroxide but below a melting point of the lithium carbonate and maintaining the mixture at the first temperature for a first period of time; and

heating the mixture to a second temperature above the melting point of the lithium carbonate and maintaining the mixture at the second temperature for a third period of time to form a lithium titanate having the formula;

Li₄Ti₅O_12-x

wherein x is greater than 0.

27. A lithium titanate prepared using the method set forth in claim 24.