Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017263917-A1
Application number	US-201715458604-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 14, 2017
Priority date	Mar 14, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2017
Grant date	—

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 compound represented by Formula (III):
Li α Co 1−x M x Al γ O δ   (III)
wherein M is selected from B, Na, Mn, Ni, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof, 0.95≦α≦1.10, 0<x<0.50 0≦γ≦0.05, and 1.95≦δ≦2.60.

2 . A powder comprising particles, said particles comprising the compound according claim 1 .

3 . A powder comprising:
particles comprising a core and a coating disposed over at least a portion of the core; wherein the core comprises a compound selected from the compound represented by Formula (I), Formula (IIa), or Formula (III):
Li α MO δ ,   (I)

(x)[Li 2 M 1 O 3 ].(1−x)[LiM 2 O 2 ]  (IIa)

(x)[Li 2 M 1 O 3 ].(1−x)[Li1 −y M 2 O 2 ]  (IIb)

Li α Co 1−x M x Al γ O δ   (III)

wherein: when the compound is Formula (I),
M is selected from Co, Mn, Ni, and a combination thereof,
0.95≦α≦2,
1.90≦δ≦3;
when the compound is Formula (IIa),
0≦x≦1,
M l is selected from Ti, Mn, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof, and
M 2 is selected from B, Na, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof;
when the compound is Formula (IIb),
0≦x≦1,
0≦y≦1,
M 1 is selected from Ti, Mn, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof, and
M 2 is selected from B, Na, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof;
and when the compound is Formula (III),
M is selected from B, Na, Mn, Ni, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Mo, Ru and a combination thereof,
0.95≦α≦1.10,
0<x<0.50,
0≦γ≦0.05, and
1.95≦δ≦2.60; and
wherein the coating comprises an oxide material, a fluoride material, or a combination thereof.

4 . The powder according to claim 3 , wherein the core comprises a compound according to Formula (IIa) or Formula (IIb).

5 . The powder of claim 3 , wherein the core comprises a compound represented by Formula (III).

6 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein 0.001≦γ≦0.03.

7 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein a distribution of aluminum within the core is biased proximate a surface thereof.

8 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein M is Mn.

9 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein the oxide material comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Co, Li, Zr, Mg, Ti, Zn, Mn, B, Si, Ga, and Bi.

10 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein the oxide material comprises a phosphate material.

11 . The powder according to claim 5 , wherein the fluoride material comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Co, Mn, Ni, Li, Ca, Zr, Mg, Ti, and Na.

12 . A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 3 .

13 . A cathode comprising a cathode current collector and a cathode active material according to claim 12 .

14 . A battery cell, comprising:
an anode comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material disposed over the anode current collector; and a cathode according to claim 13 .

15 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
a set of components powered by a battery pack, the battery pack comprising the battery cell according to claim 14 .

16 . A method of making a powder, the method comprising:
preparing a precursor solution comprising a solvent and at least one precursor dissolved in the solvent; adding the precursor solution to the powder to form a wet-impregnated powder; and heating the wet-impregnated powder at an elevated temperature; wherein the particles comprise the compound of claim 1 .

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein heating the wet-impregnated powder comprises drying the wet-impregnated powder.

18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the at least one precursor comprises aluminum.

19 . The method of claim 16 , wherein preparing the precursor solution comprises:
dissolving a first precursor into a first portion of solvent to form a first solution; dissolving a second precursor into a second portion of solvent to form a second solution; mixing the first solution with the second solution thereby forming the precursor solution.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the first precursor comprises aluminum and wherein the second precursor comprises phosphate.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Dai Hongli
• Padhi Akshaya K
• Wu Huiming
• Wang Dapeng
• Johnson Christopher S
• Carter John David
• Bettge Martin
• Kircova Ana
• Lin Chi-Kai
• Shin Youngho
• Wang Xiaoping

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M4/505

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

• H01M4/525 Primary

  of mixed oxides or hydroxides containing iron, cobalt or nickel for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiNiO2, LiCoO2 or LiCoOxFy · CPC title

• H01M4/131 Primary

  Electrodes based on mixed oxides or hydroxides, or on mixtures of oxides or hydroxides, e.g. LiCoOx · CPC title

• H01M2220/30

  Batteries in portable systems, e.g. mobile phone, laptop · CPC title