Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017263928-A1
Application number	US-201715458612-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

What is claimed is:

1 . A compound represented by Formula (I):
Li α Co 1-x Mn x O δ   (IV)
wherein: 0.95≦α≦1.10, 0≦x≦0.10, and 1.90≦δ≦2.20.

2 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein 1.00≦α≦1.05.

3 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein 1.01≦α≦1.05 and 0.02≦x≦0.05.

4 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein 1.01≦α≦1.05 and x=0.04.

5 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein the compound has a structure represented by Formula (Va) or Formula (Vb):
( x )[Li 2 MnO 3 ].(1- x )[LiCoO 2 ]  (Va)
( x )[Li 2 MnO 3 ].(1- x )[Li (1-y) Co (1-y) Mn y O 2 ]  (Vb)
wherein 0≦x≦0.10 and 0≦γ≦0.10.

6 . A powder comprising particles, the particles comprising a compound represented by Formula (IV):
Li α Co 1-x Mn x O δ   (IV)
wherein 0.95≦α≦1.10, 0≦x≦0.10, and 1.90≦δ≦2.20.

7 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein the compound has a structure represented by Formula (IIa):
( x )[Li 2 MnO 3 ].(1- x )[LiCoO 2 ]  (Va)
( x )[Li 2 MnO 3 ].(1- x )[Li (1-y) Co (1-y) Mn y O 2 ]  (Vb)
wherein 0≦x≦0.10 and 0≦γ≦0.10.

8 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the particles have a smooth surface.

9 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the particles have a tap density equal to or greater than 2.2 g/cm 3 .

10 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein at least a portion of the particles have a smooth surface and a tap density equal to or greater than 2.2 g/cm 3 .

11 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein 0.98≦α≦1.01, x=0.03.

12 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein 1.01≦α≦1.05 and 0.02≦x≦0.05.

13 . The powder of claim 6 , wherein 1.01≦α≦1.05 and x=0.04.

14 . A cathode active material comprising the compound of claim 1 .

15 . A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 6 .

16 . A cathode comprising a cathode active material of claim 14 .

17 . A battery cell, comprising:
an anode, comprising an anode current collector, and an anode active material disposed over the anode current collector; the cathode according to claim 16 ; and a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode.

18 . A portable electronic device, comprising:
a set of components powered by a battery pack, the battery pack comprising the battery cell according to claim 17 .

19 . A method for producing a powder comprising the compound of claim 1 , comprising:
mixing a lithium source with precursor particles to produce a reactant, the precursor particles comprising a transition-metal hydroxide comprising Co and Mn; and heating the reactant to a temperature equal to or greater than 800° C.

20 . The method of claim 19 , wherein the temperature is between 800-1200° C.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Dai Hongli
• Padhi Akshaya K
• Wu Huiming
• Wang Dapeng
• Johnson Christopher S
• Carter John David
• Bettge Martin
• Lu Wenquan
• Lin Chi-Kai
• Maroni Victor A
• Wang Xiaoping

Classifications

• H01M2220/30

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

• H01M4/131

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

• H01M4/5825

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

• H01M4/523

  for non-aqueous cells (H01M4/525 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title