Nano-sized structured layered positive electrode materials to enable high energy density and high rate capability lithium batteries

• US 8,277,683 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2009
• Issued: 10/02/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC (University of Chicago)
• Original Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC (University of Chicago)
• Inventors: Deng, Haixia, Belharouak, Ilias, Amine, Khalil
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Khanh Tuan
• Application Number:
  US12/454,748
• Publication Number:
  US 20090297947A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 252/500, 252/182.1, 429/218.1, 429/219, 429/223, 429/231.95, 429/232, 429/231.3
• US Class Current: 252/182.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/052 Li-accumulators
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0471 involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 4/0497 Chemical precipitation
• 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 4/505 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: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

Nano-sized structured dense and spherical layered positive active materials provide high energy density and high rate capability electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. Such materials are spherical second particles made from agglomerated primary particles that are Li_1+α(Ni_xCo_yMn_z)_1−tM_tO_2−dR_d, where M is selected from can be Al, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ag, Ca, Na, K, In, Ga, Ge, V, Mo, Nb, Si, Ti, Zr, or a mixture of any two or more thereof, R is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, H, S, N, or a mixture of any two or more thereof, and 0≦α≦0.50; 0<x≦1; 0≦y≦1; 0<z≦1; 0≦t≦1; and 0≦d≦0.5. Methods of preparing such materials and their use in electrochemical devices are also described.

Claims

1. A material comprising:

a plurality of metal oxide secondary particles comprising primary particles, wherein;

an average primary particle size is about 1 nm to 500 nm;

an average secondary particle size is about 1 μ

m to 100 μ

m;

the material is a positive active material; and

the primary particles comprise Li_1.1Ni_0.2Mn_0.6O₂.

2. The material of claim 1, wherein the secondary particles are spherical.

3. The material of claim 1, wherein the material further comprises a carbon-coating.

4. An electrochemical device comprising:

a positive electrode comprising the material of claim 1;

a negative electrode;

and a non-aqueous electrolyte.