Precursors of cathode materials for a rechargeable lithium ion battery

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020024153-A1
Application number	US-201816488717-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 7, 2018
Priority date	Mar 8, 2017
Publication date	Jan 23, 2020
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure, comprising the steps of: —providing an first aqueous solution comprising a source of Co, —providing a second aqueous solution comprising Na2CO3, —mixing both solutions in a precipitation reactor at a temperature above 70° C., thereby precipitating a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound whilst evacuating from the reactor any CO2 formed by the precipitation reaction, wherein the residence time of the compound in the reactor is between 1 and 4 hours, and—recovering the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound. The cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound is used as a precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries.

First claim

1 - 16 (canceled)

17 . Use of a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound, having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure as a precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries.

18 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 17 , wherein the compound has the general formula [Co 1-a A a ] 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 , A being one or more of Ni, Mn, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg, with a≤0.05.

19 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 17 in a mixture with cobalt carbonate, wherein in the XRD pattern of the mixture the peak ratio P has a value <1, with P=P1/P2, P1 being the maximum peak intensity at 32˜33 degree, and P2 being the maximum peak intensity at 34˜35 degree.

20 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 17 , wherein the compound further comprises Na as an impurity of up to 0.3 wt %.

21 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 17 , wherein the compound has a particle size distribution with D50 between 15 and 25 μm and a span <0.80.

22 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 17 , wherein the compound has a spherical morphology and a tap density >1.8 g/cm 3 .

23 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of claim 18 , wherein A is one or both of Al and Mg, with 0.002≤a≤0.020, and wherein one or both of Al and Mg is homogeneously doped in the compound.

24 . A precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide comprising a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure.

25 . The precursor of claim 24 , wherein the compound has the general formula [Co 1-a A a ] 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 , A being one or more of Ni, Mn, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg, with a≤0.05.

26 . The precursor of claim 24 , further comprising cobalt carbonate, wherein the cobalt carbonate is mixed with the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound to form a mixture, and in the XRD pattern of the mixture the peak ratio P has a value <1, with P=P1/P2, P1 being the maximum peak intensity at 32˜33 degree, and P2 being the maximum peak intensity at 34˜35 degree.

27 . The precursor of claim 24 , wherein the compound further comprises Na as an impurity of up to 0.3 wt %.

28 . The precursor of claim 24 , wherein the compound has a particle size distribution with D50 between 15 and 25 μm and a span <0.80.

29 . The precursor of claim 24 , wherein the compound has a spherical morphology and a tap density >1.8 g/cm 3 .

30 . The precursor of claim 25 , wherein A is one or both of Al and Mg, with 0.002≤a≤0.020, and wherein one or both of Al and Mg is homogeneously doped in the compound.

Assignees

• Umicore Nv
• Umicore Korea Ltd

Inventors

• Kim Dae-Hyun
• Paulsen Jens
• Oh Jindoo
• Blangero Maxime

Classifications

• C01P2002/72

  by d-values or two theta-values, e.g. as X-ray diagram · CPC title

• H01M10/0525

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

• 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

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · 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