Lithium metal composite oxide powder

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019288284-A1
Application number	US-201716318398-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 19, 2017
Priority date	Jul 22, 2016
Publication date	Sep 19, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

Problem
To provide a lithium ion battery positive electrode active material having a reduced amount of a lithium residue and an excellent volumetric capacity.
Solution
A powder is formed of particles of a lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese composite oxide having a composition: Li a Ni b Co c Mn d O 2 (0.8≤a≤1.2, 0.7≤b≤0.95, 0.05≤c≤0.33, 0.05≤d≤0.33, and b+c+d=1), in which an average particle diameter (volume-based average diameter) of the powder is more than 10.0 μm and less than 16.0 μm, a specific surface area of the powder by a BET method using nitrogen adsorption is more than 0.5 m 2 /g and less than 2.0 m 2 /g, and the powder has been subjected to a water washing treatment.

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . A powdered lithium metal complex oxide for use as a lithium ion battery positive electrode active material, comprising
particles of a lithium/nickel/cobalt/manganese complex oxide having a composition Li a Ni b Co c Mn d O 2 (with 0.8≤a≤1.2, 0.7≤b≤0.95, 0.05≤c≤0.33, 0.05≤d≤0.33, b+c+d=1), wherein the particles have an average particle size (volumetric average size) of greater than 10.0 μm and less than 16.0 μm, a BET specific surface area as determined via nitrogen adsorption of greater than 1 m 2 /g and less than 2.0 m 2 /g, and wherein a residual lithium hydroxide content is 0.3% by weight or less and up to 10 mol % of either one or more dopants selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Al, Mg, W, Zr, Cr and V.

12 . The powdered lithium metal complex oxide according to claim 11 , wherein the particles are washed with at least 100 ml of pure water per 100 g of particles to reduce residual lithium hydroxide content to 0.3% by weight or less.

13 . The powdered lithium metal complex oxide according to claim 11 , having a pressed density of 3.0 g/cm 3 or greater under a pressure of 127 MPa.

14 . The powdered lithium metal complex oxide according to claim 11 , wherein said either one or more dopants is selected from the group consisting of Ca, Ti, Al, Mg, Cr and V.

15 . The powdered lithium metal complex oxide according to claim 11 , wherein the particles are produced in a roller hearth kiln or in a rotary kiln.

16 . The powdered lithium metal complex oxide according to claim 11 , wherein the particles are washed with at least 100 ml of pure water per 100 g of particles and wherein subsequently the particles are dried at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 800° C.

17 . A positive electrode active material containing the powdered lithium metal complex oxide of claim 11 .

18 . A lithium ion battery containing the positive electrode active material of claim 17 .

19 . A method of producing the powdered lithium metal complex hydroxide of claim 11 , comprising the following steps;
a mixing step, comprising
preparing a powder of nickel-cobalt-manganese complex hydroxide having an average particle size of from 10.0 μm to less than 20.0 μm as a precursor powder and
adding a powder of a lithium compound to the precursor powder to obtain a mixture, wherein the amount ratio of the precursor powder to the lithium compound powder is within a range capable of obtaining a mixture at a ratio such that elements of Li, Ni, Co, and Mn satisfy a composition of Li a Ni b Co c Mn d O 2 (with 0.8≤a≤1.2, 0.7≤b≤0.95, 0.05≤c≤0.33, 0.05≤d≤0.33, b+c+d=1),
a baking step comprising baking the mixture obtained in the mixing step in a gas flow containing oxygen at a baking temperature within a range of from 450° C. to 900° C. in a baking time of from 2 hours to 20 hours to obtain baked particles of lithium-nickel-cobalt-manganese complex oxide, and a washing step comprising washing the baked particles with pure water in an amount of 100 mL or greater relative to 100 g of the fired product to obtain the lithium metal complex oxide powder.

20 . The method according to claim 19 , further comprising a drying step comprising drying the washed particles at a temperature ranging from 200° C. to 800° C.

Assignees

• Umicore Nv

Inventors

• Otterstedt Ralph

Classifications

• H01M4/485

  of mixed oxides or hydroxides for inserting or intercalating light metals, e.g. LiTi2O4 or LiTi2OxFy (H01M4/505, H01M4/525 take precedence) · CPC title

• C01G53/00

  Compounds of nickel · CPC title

• C01P2006/10

  Solid density · CPC title

• C01P2002/52

  containing elements as dopants · CPC title

• C01G53/50 Primary

  of the type (MnO2)n-, e.g. Li(NixMn1-x)O2 or Li(MyNixMn1-x-y)O2 · CPC title