Negative electrode for a rechargeable lithium battery comprising a solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide

• US 6,007,945 A
• Filed: 10/10/1997
• Issued: 12/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Electrovaya Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Electrofuel, Inc.
• Inventors: Dasgupta, Sankar, Jacobs, James K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nuzzolillo, Maria
• Assistant Examiner(s): O MALLEY, JENNIFER L
• Application Number:
  US08/949,099
• Time in Patent Office: 809 Days
• Field of Search: 429/218.1, 429/231.5, 429/231.95, 423/610, 423/618
• US Class Current: 429/218.1
• 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 10/446 Initial charging measures
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2004/027 Negative electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0447 of complete cells or cells stacks
• 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 4/364 as mixtures
• 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 4/525 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide is utilized as the anode active substance in the negative electrode of a rechargeable lithium battery. The lithium battery comprised of a negative electrode containing particles of titanium dioxide-tin dioxide solid solution, a non-aqueous lithium ion bearing electrolyte and a positive electrode, usually made of a lithium containing chalcogenide compound provides stable voltage, has high reversible anode capacity and high energy density.

Claims

1. An anode active composition for a negative electrode of a rechargeable lithium battery capable of reversibly intercalating lithium ions, comprising a solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide, said solid solution containing titanium dioxide and tin dioxide in amounts such that the ratio of titanium to tin in the solid solution corresponds to an intermetallic compound composition range of one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of Ti₃ Sn, Ti₂ Sn, Ti₅ Sn₃ and Ti₆ Sn₅.

2. An anode active composition for a negative electrode of a rechargeable lithium battery as claimed in claim 1, wherein said solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide is comprised of an intimate mixture of crystalline solid solution particles of titanium dioxide dissolved in tin dioxide and tin dioxide dissolved in titanium dioxide.

3. An anode active composition for a negative electrode of a rechargeable lithium battery as claimed in claim 2, wherein a portion of said solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide is present in said composition as a glassy compound.

4. A rechargeable lithium battery comprising:

i) a negative electrode containing an anode active component comprising a solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide capable of reversibly intercalating lithium ions and having a composition range of TiO₂ ;

SnO₂ between 90;

10 and 5;

95 in weight;

ii) a positive electrode comprising a lithiated transition metal chalcogenide compound as cathode active component;

iii) a lithium ion bearing non-aqueous electrolyte;

iv) a first current collector in contact with said negative electrode and a second current collector in contact with said positive electrode; and

v) electrical leads and at least one moisture impervious layer for packaging and sealing said rechargeable lithium battery.

5. A rechargeable lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 4, wherein said solid solution of titanium dioxide and tin dioxide contains titanium dioxide and tin dioxide in amounts such that the ratio of titanium to tin corresponds to an intermetallic compound composition range of one of the compounds selected from the group consisting of Ti₃ Sn, Ti₂ Sn, Ti₅ Sn₃ and Ti₆ Sn₅.

6. A rechargeable lithium battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein said rechargeable lithium battery has been electrochemically pre-charged prior to packaging and sealing said rechargeable lithium battery.

7. A rechargeable lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein said negative electrode also contains carbon particles and a binder compound.

8. A rechargeable lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lithium ion bearing non-aqueous electrolyte is a solid polymer containing mobile lithium ions.

9. A rechargeable lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lithium ion bearing non-aqueous electrolyte is a microporous polymer impregnated with a lithium ion containing organic solution.

10. A rechargeable lithium ion battery as claimed in claim 5, wherein said lithiated transition metal chalcogenide compound is selected from the group consisting of lithium-manganese oxide, lithium-cobalt oxide, lithium-nickel oxide, lithium-vanadium oxide and solid solutions thereof.