Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10164256-B2
Application number	US-201715458618-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	Dec 25, 2018
Grant date	Dec 25, 2018

Abstract

Compounds, powders, and cathode active materials that can be used in lithium ion batteries are described herein. Methods of making such compounds, powders, and cathode active materials are described.

First claim

We claim:

1. A powder comprising particles, the particles comprising a compound represented by Formula (VII):
Li α Co 1−x−y M y Mn x O δ   (VII)

wherein
M is at least one element selected from B, Na, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Ru, and Mo,
0.95≤α≤1.30,
0<x≤0.30,
0<y≤0.10,
1.98≤δ≤2.04, and
the compound is a single-phase compound with an R 3 m crystal structure;
wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 5 μm and less than or equal to 30 μm; and
wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, each secondary particle comprising a plurality of primary particles sintered together.

2. The powder of claim 1 , wherein
0.98≤α≤1.16,
0<x≤0.16, and
0<y≤0.05.

3. The powder of claim 1 , wherein
0.96≤α≤1.04, and
0<x≤0.10.

4. The powder of claim 1 , wherein
0.98≤α≤1.01,
0.001≤x≤0.04, and
0<y≤0.03.

5. The powder of claim 1 , wherein 0.98≤α≤1.01, 0.001≤x≤0.03, and 0<y≤0.03.

6. The powder of claim 1 , wherein α>1+x.

7. The powder of claim 1 , wherein α<1+x.

8. The powder of claim 1 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 20 μm.

9. The powder of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, wherein at least 30% of a mean secondary particle is formed of a single primary particle.

10. A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 1 .

11. A cathode comprising the cathode active material of claim 10 .

12. A battery cell, comprising:
an anode comprising an anode current collector,
the cathode according to claim 11 ; and
a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode.

13. The battery cell of claim 12 , having a first-cycle discharge energy greater than or equal to 750 Wh/kg.

14. The battery cell of claim 12 , wherein a first-cycle energy capacity is at least 65% after 52 discharge cycles.

15. The powder of claim 1 , wherein M is Al.

16. The powder of claim 15 , wherein
0.98≤α≤1.16,
0<x≤0.16, and
0<y≤0.05.

17. The powder of claim 15 , wherein
0.96≤α≤1.04, and
0<x≤0.10.

18. The powder of claim 15 , wherein
0.98≤α≤1.01,
0.001≤x≤0.04, and
0<y≤0.03.

19. The powder of claim 15 , wherein 0.98≤α≤1.01, 0.001≤x≤0.03, and 0<y≤0.03.

20. The powder of claim 15 , wherein α>1+x.

21. The powder of claim 15 , wherein α<1+x.

22. The powder of claim 15 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 20 μm.

23. The powder of claim 15 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles,
wherein at least 30% of a mean secondary particle is formed of a single primary particle.

24. A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 15 .

25. A cathode comprising the cathode active material of claim 24 .

26. A battery cell, comprising:
an anode comprising an anode current collector,
the cathode according to claim 25 ; and
a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode.

27. The battery cell of claim 26 , having a first-cycle discharge energy greater than or equal to 750 Wh/kg.

28. The battery cell of claim 26 , wherein a first-cycle energy capacity is at least 65% after 52 discharge cycles.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wu Huiming
• Dai Hongli
• Wang Dapeng
• Johnson Christopher S
• Carter John David
• Cui Yanjie
• Gutierrez Arturo
• Iddir Hakim H
• Kropf Arthur Jeremy
• Li Yan
• Maroni Victor A
• Vu Anh D
• Wang Xiaoping
• Yang Zhenzhen

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M4/5825

  Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines · CPC title

• H01M4/0471

  involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis · CPC title

• H01M4/505

  of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing manganese for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiMn2O4 or LiMn2OxFy · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title