Polycrystalline metal oxides with enriched grain boundaries
AssigneeCAMX Power LLC
InventorsAdrian W. Pullen, David Ofer, Suresh Sriramulu, Kenan Sahin, Jane Rempel
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Abstract
Provided are electrochemically active secondary particles that provide excellent capacity and improved cycle life. The particles are characterized by selectively enriched grain boundaries where the grain boundaries are enriched Al. The enrichment with Al reduces impedance generation during cycling thereby improving capacity and cycle life. Also provided are methods of forming electrochemically active materials, as well as electrodes and electrochemical cells employing the secondary particles.
Claims19
A particle, comprising:
- a plurality of crystallites comprising a first composition comprising lithium, nickel, and oxygen;
- a grain boundary between adjacent crystallites of the plurality of crystallites and comprising a second composition having a layered α-NaFeO2-type structure, a cubic structure, a spinel structure, or a combination thereof;
- wherein a concentration of aluminum in the grain boundary is greater than a concentration of aluminum in the crystallites.
An electrochemically active polycrystalline secondary particle comprising:
- a plurality of crystallites, the plurality of crystallites comprising a first composition defined by Li1+xMO2+y, wherein
- −0.1≤x≤0.3,
- −0.3≤y≤0.3, and
- wherein M comprises nickel at greater than or equal to 80 atomic percent;
- and
- a grain boundary between adjacent crystallites of said plurality of crystallites and comprising a second composition optionally having an α-NaFeO2-type layered structure, a cubic structure, spinel structure, or a combination thereof, wherein a concentration of aluminum in the grain boundary is greater than a concentration of aluminum in the crystallites.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.