Multi-phase structured cathode active material for lithium ion battery
AssigneeNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
InventorSungjin Cho
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lithium deficient cathode active material for lithium-ion batteries is described. More particularly, the lithium deficient cathode active material can have multiphase structures, including both a layered or hexagonal structure (e.g., having an R-3m space group) and a spinel structure (e.g., having a Fd-m space group). Batteries including the cathode active material and methods of preparing the cathode active material are also described.
Claims24
A cathode active material for lithium-ion batteries comprising a compound having multiphase structures, wherein said compound has the formula:
- Li1-a[NixCoyMz]O2-wGw
- wherein M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, V, Cu, Zn, B, Zr, Ga, Fe, Ti, Cr, Sn, Sr, P, Ge, In, Cr and combinations thereof;
- a is between about 0.01 and about 0.5;
- each of x and y is between about 0.1 and about 0.8, z is between about 0.1 and about 0.5, and x+y+z=1.0;
- w is between 0 and about 0.3;
- G is selected from F, Cl, and I;
- and
- wherein said multiphase structures comprise a hexagonal structure with R-3m space group and a spinel structure with Fd-3m space group.
8-10. (canceled
A method of preparing a cathode active material for a lithium-ion battery, wherein said material comprises a compound having multiphase structures, the method comprising:
- providing a metal-containing precursor having the formula:
- NixCoyMz(OH)2
- wherein M is one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Mg, V, Cu, Zn, B, Zr, Ga, Fe, Ti, Cr, Sn, Sr, P, Ge, In, Cr and combinations thereof, each of x and y is between about 0.1 and about 0.8, z is between about 0.1 and about 0.5, and x+y+z=1.0;
- mixing the metal-containing precursor with a lithium-containing salt, optionally Li2CO3, to provide a precursor mixture;
- heating the precursor mixture to between about 800° C. and about 1000° C. at a rate of between about 3° C. per minute and about 6° C. per minute to provide a heated mixture;
- and
- maintaining the heated mixture at between about 800° C. and about 1000° C. for a period of time between about 2 hours and about 10 hours, thereby providing a cathode active material having the formula:
- Li1-a[NixCoyMz]O2;
- wherein a is between about 0.01 and about 0.5;
- x, y, z, and M are as described for the metal-containing precursor;
- and wherein the multiphase structures comprise a hexagonal structure with R-3m space group and a spinel structure with Fd-3m space group.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.