# US 2023/0053750 A1 · Cathode active material and method for making such cathode active material

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- Number: US 2023/0053750 A1
- Document ID: US20230053750A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 17/758,728
- Filed: 2021-01-28
- Published: 2023-02-23
- Earliest claimed: 2021-01-28
- Assignees: BASF SE
- Applicants: BASF SE
- Inventors: Tobias Maximilian TEUFL; Benjamin Johannes Herbert BERGNER
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230053750A1

## CPC

- 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
- C01G 53/502: containing lithium and cobalt
- H01M 4/505: of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy
- C01P 2002/50: Solid solutions
- C01P 2002/52: containing elements as dopants
- C01P 2002/74: by peak-intensities or a ratio thereof only
- C01P 2004/03: obtained by SEM
- C01P 2004/50: Agglomerated particles
- C01P 2004/61: Micrometer sized, i.e. from 1-100 micrometer
- C01P 2004/62: Submicrometer sized, i.e. from 0.1-1 micrometer
- C01P 2006/10: Solid density
- C01P 2006/11: Powder tap density
- C01P 2006/12: Surface area
- C01P 2006/40: Electric properties
- H01M 2004/021: {Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area}
- H01M 2004/028: {Positive electrodes}
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C01G: COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F (metal hydrides {monoborane, diborane or addition complexes thereof} C01B6/00; salts of oxyacids of halogens C01B11/00; peroxides, salts or peroxyacids C01B15/00; thiosulfates, dithionites, polythionates C01B17/64; compounds containing selenium, or tellurium C01B19/00; binary compounds of nitrogen with metals C01B21/06; azides C01B21/08; {compounds containing nitrogen, other non-metals and metal C01B21/082}; metal amides C01B21/092; nitrites C01B21/50; {compounds of noble gases C01B23/0005}; phosphides C01B25/08; salts of oxyacids of phosphorus C01B25/16; carbides C01B32/90; compounds containing silicon C01B33/00; compounds containing boron C01B35/00; compounds having molecular sieve properties but not having base-exchange properties C01B37/00; compounds having molecular sieve and base-exchange properties, e.g. crystalline zeolites, C01B39/00; cyanides C01C3/08; salts of cyanamide C01C3/16; thiocyanates C01C3/20)
- C01P: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

Cathode active material in particulate form with a mean particle diameter in the range from 2 to 16 µm (D50), wherein the cathode active material has the composition Li1+xTM1-xO2 wherein x is in the range of from 0.1 to 0.2 and TM is a combination of elements according to general formula (I), (NiaCobMnc)1-d-eM1dM2e where the variables are each defined as follows: a is in the range from 0.20 to 0.40, b is in the range of from zero to 0.15, c is in the range of from 0.50 to 0.75, d is in the range of from zero to 0.015, and e is in the range of from zero to 0.02, M1 is selected from Al, Ti, Zr, Mo, W, Fe, Nb, and Mg, M2 is selected from B and K, with a + b + c = 1.0 wherein said composite oxide has a specific surface (BET) in the range from 0.5 m2/gto 10 m2/gand a pressed density of at least 2.9 g/cm3, and wherein said cathode active material has an average primary particle diameter in the range of from 200 to 3,000 nm.

## Claims

### Claim at position 1

1-10. (canceled)

### Claim 11

A cathode active material in particulate form with a mean particle diameter ranging from 2 µm to 16 µm (D50), wherein the cathode active material has a composition Li1+xTM1-xO2, wherein x ranges from 0.1 to 0.2 and TM is a combination of elements according to general formula (I),
wherein:
a ranges from 0.20 to 0.40,
b ranges from zero to 0.15,
c ranges from 0.50 to 0.75,
d ranges from zero to 0.015, and
e ranges of from zero to 0.02,
M1 is selected from Al, Ti, Zr, Mo, Fe, Nb, and Mg,
M2 is selected from B and K,
with a + b + c = 1.0
wherein the composite oxide has a specific surface (BET) ranging from 0.5 m2/g to 10 m2/g and a pressed density of at least 2.9 g/cm3, and
wherein the cathode active material has an average primary particle diameter in the range of from 200 nm to 3,000 nm.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The cathode active material according to claim 11, wherein the specific surface ranges from 0.7 m2/g to 5 m2/g.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The cathode active material according to claim 11, wherein the pressed density ranges from 3 to 3.6 g/cm3.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The cathode active material according to claim 11, wherein the material has a structural strain of 0.6 % or less for the reflection peak between 29.8° to 30.6° of a corresponding X-Ray diffraction pattern using Mo-Kα X-radiation.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The cathode active material according to claim 11, wherein the mean particle diameter D50 ranges from 2 µm to 6 µm.

### Claim 16

A process for making a cathode active material for lithium ion batteries wherein the process comprises:
(a1) mixing a manganese composite (oxy)hydroxide whose metal part has a general formula (II a)
with a source of lithium and a flux agent based on M
2, or
(a2) mixing a manganese composite (oxy)hydroxide whose metal part has a general formula (II b)
with a source of lithium and at least one compound of M1 and a flux agent based on M2, and
(b) calcining the mixture at a temperature ranging from 800° C. to 1050° C., wherein
a ranges from 0.20 to 0.40,
b ranges from zero to 0.15,
c ranges from 0.50 to 0.75,
d ranges from zero to 0.015, and
e ranges from zero to 0.02,
wherein M1 is selected from Al, Ti, Zr, Mo, W, Fe, Nb, and Mg, and
M2 is selected from B, and
with a + b + c = 1.0.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The process according to claim 16, wherein the process comprises the additional steps of
(c) contacting the resultant lithiated oxide with a mineral acid or an aqueous solution of a compound of M1 or a combination thereof, wherein M1 is selected from Al, Ti, Zr, Mo, W, Fe, Nb, and Mg, followed by removal of water, and
(d) treating the resultant solid residue thermally, or
(e) treating the resultant solid residue with boric acid, followed by thermal treatment.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The process according to claim 17, wherein the removal of water is performed by a solid-liquid separation step.

### Claim 19 (depends on 16)

The process according to claim 16, wherein the flux agent is boric acid.

### Claim 20 (depends on 16)

The process according to claim 16, wherein from 0.1% to 2 % by weight of flux agent is added in step (a1) or (a2) and the percentage referring to the manganese composite (oxy)hydroxide.