Method of producing lithium base cathodes

• US 6,582,481 B1
• Filed: 11/23/1999
• Issued: 06/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Johnson Researach and Development Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Erbil, Ahmet
• Primary Examiner(s): Ryan, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALEJANDRO, RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/447,250
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 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, 427/255.23, 427/255.395, 427/250, 427/252, 427/372.2
• US Class Current: 29/623.5
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/18 from metallo-organic compounds
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/40 Oxides
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4486 by producing an aerosol and subsequent evaporation of the droplets or particles
• CPC Class Codes: C23C 16/4557 Heated nozzles
• 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 10/0585 of accumulators having only flat construction elements, i.e. flat positive electrodes, flat negative electrodes and flat separators
• 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: 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 (TMHD) and Co (acac)₃ is dissolved in an organic solvent comprising diglyme, toluene and HTMHD to produce a solution. The solution is deposited upon a substrate by atomizing the solution, passing the atomized solution through a heating zone 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 the lithium based solution mist to a vapor state; and

(d) depositing the vapor upon a substrate.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of (e) heating the substrate.

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

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the mist is vaporized prior to passing through the nozzle.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the mist is vaporized after passing through the nozzle.

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

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said lithium compound is lithium (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate).

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said cobalt compound is cobalt (III) acety lacetonate.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent includes diglyme.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent includes toluene.

11. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent includes (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate).

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the organic solvent is a mixture of diglyme, toluene and (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate).

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

14. A method of producing a layer of lithium metal oxide comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a solution having a mixture of lithium (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate) and cobalt (III) acetyl lacetonate dissolved in an organic solvent;

(b) processing the solution to form a mist;

(c) heating the solution mist to a vapor state; and

(d) depositing the vapor upon a substrate.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of (e) heating the substrate.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein the vapor is deposited through a nozzle.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the mist is vaporized prior to passing through the nozzle.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the mist is vaporized after passing through the nozzle.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein the organic solvent includes diglyme.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein the organic solvent includes toluene.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein the organic solvent includes (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate).

22. The method of claim 14 wherein the organic solvent is a mixture of diglyme, toluene and (2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptadionate).

23. The method of claim 14 wherein the mist has a droplet size distribution of between 5 and 20 micrometers.