Plasma synthesis of lithium based intercalation powders for solid polymer electrolyte batteries
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy
InventorsPeter C. Kong, Robert J. Pink, Lee O. Nelson
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Abstract
The invention relates to a process for preparing lithium intercalation compounds by plasma reaction comprising the steps of: forming a feed solution by mixing lithium nitrate or lithium hydroxide or lithium oxide and the required metal nitrate or metal hydroxide or metal oxide and between 10-50% alcohol by weight; mixing the feed solution with O2 gas wherein the O2 gas atomizes the feed solution into fine reactant droplets, inserting the atomized feed solution into a plasma reactor to form an intercalation powder; and if desired, heating the resulting powder to from a very pure single phase product.
Claims34
A process for preparing lithium intercalation powders, comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing solutions of a lithium nitrate and a metal nitrate in a stoichiometric ratio corresponding to the desired lithium intercalation powder, and adding between 10-50% alcohol by weight to form a feed solution;
- b) mixing the feed solution with O2 gas, wherein the O2 gas is under pressure, the O2 gas assisting in atomizing the feed solution;
- c) injecting the atomized feed solution into a plasma torch to form an intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor;
- d) collecting the intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor in a collection chamber;
- and
- e) removing the resulting intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor from the chamber.
A process for preparing lithium intercalation powders, comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing solutions of a lithium hydroxide, and a metal hydroxide in a stoichiometric ratio corresponding to the desired lithium intercalation powder, and adding between 10-50% alcohol by weight to form a feed solution, the solution being under pressure;
- b) mixing the feed solution with O2 gas, wherein the O2 gas is under pressure, the O2 gas assisting in atomizing the feed solution;
- c) injecting the atomized feed solution into a plasma torch to form an intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor;
- d) collecting the intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor in a collection chamber;
- and
- e) removing the resulting intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor from the chamber.
A process for preparing lithium intercalation powders, comprising the steps of:
- a) mixing solutions of a lithium oxide, and a metal oxide in a stoichiometric ratio corresponding to the desired lithium intercalation powder, and adding between 10-50% alcohol to form a feed solution, the solution being under pressure;
- b) mixing the feed solution with O2 gas, wherein the O2 gas is under pressure, the O2 gas assisting in atomizing the feed solution;
- c) injecting the atomized feed solution into a plasma torch to form an intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor;
- d) collecting the intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor in a collection chamber;
- and
- e) removing the resulting intercalation powder or intercalation powder precursor from the chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.