Cathode active materials and powders

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025054970-A1
Application number	US-202418799809-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 9, 2024
Priority date	Aug 11, 2023
Publication date	Feb 13, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The disclosure is directed to sintered cathode active materials than can be used in lithium-ion batteries. The sintered cathode active materials are prepared by forming a calcinated powder. The calcinated power is combined with inactive components to form a slurry. The slurry is dried and densified to form a green body. The green body is sintered to form the sintered cathode active material. The powder, slurry, green body, and sintered cathode active material have properties that provide improved performance of the cathode active material.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A powder comprising a compound selected from Formula (I):
Li a (Co x Ni y Mn z ) 1-b Me b O c   (I)
wherein Me is selected from Na, Si, S, Al, K, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Zr, La, Ce, Y, Mo, Sn, Ag, Nb, Ca, Ti, Mg, and a combination thereof; (x+y+z) is (1−b); 0.97≤a≤1.05; 0<b≤0.50; and 1.97≤c≤2.05.

2 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein 0<b≤0.15.

3 . The powder of claim 2 , wherein x is (1−b).

4 . The powder of claim 2 , wherein y is (1−b).

5 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein x is at least 0.5 and y is at least 0.5.

6 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein x is at least 6.0 and y is at least 6.0.

7 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me is selected from Na, Si, S, Al, K, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Zr, Y, Mo, Sn, Ag, Nb, Ca, Ti, Mg, and a combination thereof.

8 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me comprises Na with a ppm less than or equal to 300 ppm.

9 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me is selected from Na, Si, S, Al, K, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Mn, Ni, Zr, Y, Mo, Sn, Ag, Nb, Ca, Ti, Mg, and a combination thereof.

10 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me is a single element.

11 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me is more than one element and each separate element is present in an amount less than or equal to 0.10.

12 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein Me is selected from:
Ni, Mn, and Al; Al, Ti, and Mg; La, Zr, and Ni; La, Zr, Ni, and Al; La and Al; Ca and Ti; Ca, Ti, and Al; Ca and Mg; and Ca, Mg, and Al.

13 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D50 less than or equal to 0.30 μm.

14 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D50 less than or equal to 0.20 μm.

15 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D50 less than or equal to 0.15 μm.

16 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D50 at least 0.10 μm.

17 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D90 is less than or equal to 0.50 μm.

18 . The power of claim 1 , wherein the powder has a particle size D90 is less than or equal to 0.25 μm.

19 . The powder of claim 1 , having a zeta-potential of less than or equal to −40 mV.

20 . The powder of claim 1 , wherein an average particle is non-spherical and comprises one or more facets.

Assignees

• Apple Inc

Inventors

• Wu Huiming
• Bettge Martin
• Snyder Shawn W

Classifications

• C01G53/50

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

• H01M4/505

  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

• H01M4/131

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

• H01M4/622

  being polymers · CPC title