METHOD FOR PRODUCING LITHIUM ION CELL ACTIVE MATERIAL PARTICLES

• US 20170125812A1
• Filed: 06/01/2015
• Published: 05/04/2017
• 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
• Granted Patent: US 10,454,110 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. 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 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.

10. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 9, wherein a channel diameter immediately before the junction of the raw material-feeding channels is from 0.05 to 3 mm.

11. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 9, wherein, near the junction of the raw material-feeding channels, a turbulent flow is imparted to the raw material solutions after joining.

12. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 9, wherein the plurality of raw material solutions are temperature-adjusted before mixing such that a temperature not less than a temperature necessary for induction of the chemical reaction is achieved immediately after mixing at the junction of the raw material-feeding channels.

13. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 10, wherein the plurality of raw material solutions are temperature-adjusted before mixing such that a temperature not less than a temperature necessary for induction of the chemical reaction is achieved immediately after mixing at the junction of the raw material-feeding channels.

14. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of raw material solutions are temperature-adjusted before mixing such that a temperature not less than a temperature necessary for induction of the chemical reaction is achieved immediately after mixing at the junction of the raw material-feeding channels.

15. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 9, wherein the chemical reaction includes a neutralization reaction.

16. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 12, wherein the chemical reaction includes a neutralization reaction.

17. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 13, wherein the chemical reaction includes a neutralization reaction.

18. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 14, wherein the chemical reaction includes a neutralization reaction.

19. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 9, wherein a solvent of the raw material solution is a coordinating solvent.

20. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 12, wherein a solvent of the raw material solution is a coordinating solvent.

21. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 13, wherein a solvent of the raw material solution is a coordinating solvent.

22. The method for producing an active material particle for a lithium ion battery according to claim 14, wherein a solvent of the raw material solution is a coordinating solvent.

24. 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 12, the plurality of raw material solutions include a first raw material solution containing a lithium compound and a second raw material solution containing a transition metal and induce the chemical reaction to continuously produce an active material particle for a lithium ion battery.

25. 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 9, the active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery is a transition metal salt particle, the plurality of raw material solutions include a first raw material solution containing a transition metal constituting the transition metal salt particle and a second raw material solution containing a counter ion forming a salt with the transition metal, and the method includes a step of inducing the chemical reaction to continuously produce an active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery.

26. 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 12, the active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery is a transition metal salt particle, the plurality of raw material solutions include a first raw material solution containing a transition metal constituting the transition metal salt particle and a second raw material solution containing a counter ion forming a salt with the transition metal, and the method includes a step of inducing the chemical reaction to continuously produce an active material precursor particle for a lithium ion battery.

21-1. 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 9, the plurality of raw material solutions include a first raw material solution containing a lithium compound and a second raw material solution containing a transition metal and induce the chemical reaction to continuously produce an active material particle for a lithium ion battery.