Method and apparatus for producing lithium based cathodes

• US 6,511,516 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2000
• Issued: 01/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Baxley, John, Breitkopf, Richard, Johnson, Lonnie G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kalafut, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEJANDRO, RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/511,275
• Time in Patent Office: 1,070 Days
• Field of Search: 429/231.9, 429/231.95, 429/231.1, 429/162, 429/133, 429/137, 296/231, 296/235, 427/255.19, 427/255, 427/395, 427/250, 427/252, 427/255.23
• US Class Current: 29/623.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0419 involving spraying
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0471 involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis
• 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 4/1391 of electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49108 Electric battery cell making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49115 including coating or impregnating

Abstract

A method of producing a layer of lithiated material is provided wherein a mixture of Li(acac) and Co (acac)₃ is dissolved in an aqueous solvent to produce a solution. The solution is deposited upon a substrate by atomizing the solution, passing the atomized solution into a heated gas stream so as to vaporize the solution, and directing the vaporized solution onto a substrate.

Claims

1. A method of producing a lithium intercalation material cathode layer of a thin film battery comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a lithium based solution;

(b) atomizing the lithium based solution to form a mist;

(c) heating a stream of gas;

(d) entraining the atomized lithium based solution solution into the heated gas stream so as to heat the lithium based solution mist to a vapor state; and

(e) depositing the heated vapor upon a substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the steam of gas is heated to a temperature to cause chemical activation of the lithium based solution.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of (f) heating the substrate.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the vapor is deposited through a nozzle.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said lithium based solution is a lithium compound and cobalt compound dissolved within an aqueous solvent.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said lithium compound is Li (acac).

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said cobalt compound is Co (acac)₃.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the mist has a droplet size distribution of between 5 and 20 micrometers.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the gas stream is comprised of an inert gas.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the inert gas stream includes hydrogen.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the inert gas stream includes argon.