Silicon (Si) Modified Li2MnO3-LiMO2 (M=Ni, Mn, Co) Cathode Material For Lithium-Ion Batteries

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019252671-A1
Application number	US-201815894368-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 12, 2018
Priority date	Feb 12, 2018
Publication date	Aug 15, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

wherein y=0.01-0.33; x=0.001-0.15; a, b, and c are each greater than zero; MIII is a trivalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +3; MII is a divalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +2; and y+4a+3b+2c is equal to 3 or about 3. Such a silicon modified mixed metal oxide may be exemplified by formula: Li [Li0.2 Mn0.49 Si0.05 Ni0.13 Co0.13]O2.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A silicon-modified metal oxide comprising a compound having empirical formula
Li[Li y Mn α-x Si x M III b M II c ]O 2   (I)
wherein y=0.01-0.33; x=0.001-0.15; a, b, and c are each greater than zero; M III is a trivalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +3; M II is a divalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +2; and y+4a+3b+2c is equal to 3 or about 3.

2 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein y≥0.02.

3 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein y≥0.05.

4 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein x≥0.02.

5 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein x≥0.05.

6 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein x≥0.07.

7 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein M III comprises Co and M II comprises Ni.

8 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein a>0.3.

9 . The silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , wherein a is 0.3-0.67.

10 . A lithium ion battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the anode and cathode, wherein the cathode comprises a mixed metal oxide compound according to claim 1 .

11 . The lithium ion battery of claim 10 , wherein the mixed metal oxide compound has an empirical Formula (II):
Li[Li 0.2 Mn 0.49 Si 0.05 Ni 0.13 Co 0.13 ]O 2   (II).

12 . A method for synthesizing a silicon-modified metal oxide according to claim 1 , comprising:
combining soluble salts comprising Mn 2+ , Ni +2 , and Co +2 in an aqueous solution; co-precipitating hydroxide salts as solids from the aqueous solution with base; collecting co-precipitated solids; combining the solids with lithium hydroxide and a silicon compound; and calcining a resulting composition in air at a temperature sufficient to calcine the materials to make a composition according to claim 1 .

13 . The method according to claim 12 , wherein M III comprises Co and M II comprises Ni.

14 . The method according to claim 12 , comprising calcining at a temperature of 600-1200° C.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the silicon compound comprises silicic acid.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the silicon compound comprises a siloxane or polysiloxane.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the silicon compound is a solid.

18 . A method of operating a lithium ion battery comprising:
providing a lithium ion battery comprising an anode, a cathode, and a separator disposed between the cathode and anode, wherein the cathode comprises a battery active material prepared in a discharged state; and applying a voltage difference between the cathode and anode to de-lithiate the battery active material in the cathode and charge the lithium ion battery, wherein the battery active material comprises a mixed metal oxide having empirical formula
Li[Li y Mn α-x Si x M III b M II c ]O 2   (I)

wherein y=0.01-0.33; a=0.3-0.67; x=0.001-0.15; and b and c are both greater than zero; M III is a trivalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +3; M II is a divalent metal or a combination of metals with an average valence of +2; and y+4a+3b+2c is equal to about +3 or about +3.

19 . The method according to claim 18 , wherein M III comprises cobalt and M II comprises nickel.

20 . The method of claim 18 , wherein x≥0.01 and y≥0.1.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Wu Yan
• Nation Leah
• K Raghunathan

Classifications

• H01M10/0525

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

• H01M4/525

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

• H01M4/505 Primary

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

• H01M2004/021

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

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title