Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017263929-A1
Application number	US-201715458618-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 (VII) or Formula (VIII):
Li α Co 1−x−y M y Mn x O δ   (VII)
Li α Co 1−x−y Al y Mn x O δ   (VIII)
wherein M is at least one element selected from B, Na, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, and Zr, Ru, 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.

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

3 . The compound of claim 2 , wherein y=0.

4 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein
0.96≦α≦1.04, and 0<x≦0.10.

5 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein
the compound is represented by Formula (VIII); and 0.98≦α≦1.01, 0.02≦x≦0.04, and 0≦y≦0.03.

6 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein 0.98≦α≦1.12, 0<x≦0.16, and y=0.

7 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein 0.98≦α≦1.01, 0.02≦x≦0.04, and 0≦y≦0.03.

8 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein α>1+x.

9 . The compound of claim 1 , wherein α≦1+x.

10 . A powder comprising particles, the particles comprising a compound according to claim 1 .

11 . The powder of claim 10 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 5 μm.

12 . The powder of claim 10 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 20 μm.

13 . The powder of claim 11 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, each secondary particle comprising a plurality of primary particles sintered together.

14 . The powder of claim 13 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, wherein at least 30% of a mean secondary particle is formed of a single primary particle.

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

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

17 . A cathode comprising the cathode active material of claim 15 .

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

19 . The battery cell of claim 18 , having a first-cycle discharge energy greater than or equal to 750 Wh/kg.

20 . The battery cell of claim 18 , 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 Jeremy
• Li Yan
• Maroni Victor A
• Vu Anh D
• Wang Xiaoping
• Yang Zhenzhen

Classifications

• Y02E60/10

  Energy storage using batteries · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

  Rocking-chair batteries, i.e. batteries with lithium insertion or intercalation in both electrodes; Lithium-ion batteries · 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

• H01M2004/021

  Physical characteristics, e.g. porosity, surface area · CPC title

• H01M4/0471

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