Cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries having a multiphase structure and a manufacturing method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025140824-A1
Application number	US-202418411860-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 12, 2024
Priority date	Oct 30, 2023
Publication date	May 1, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

A cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries having a multiphase structure and a manufacturing method thereof are disclosed. The cathode active material includes a lithium oxide according to the chemical formula Li 1+x Mn 2 O 4 and having a multiphase structure including at least a cation-disordered rock salt (DRX) structure. In the formula, x satisfies the relationship 0≤x≤0.75.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries, the cathode active material comprising:
a lithium oxide having a chemical formula Li 1+x Mn 2 O 4 , and having a multiphase structure comprising at least a cation-disordered rock salt (DRX) structure, wherein x satisfies a relationship 0≤x≤0.75.

2 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material comprises at least two of a layered structure, a spinel structure, or the DRX structure.

3 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material exhibits peaks at 2θ=19°±0.5°, 31°±0.5°, 36.5°±0.5°, 48.5°±0.5°, 55°±0.5°, 58.5°±0.5°, 67.5°±0.5°, 68.5°±0.5°, 76°±0.5° and 84°±0.5° in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation.

4 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material exhibits peaks at 2θ=38°±0.5°, 44.5°±0.5°, 64.5°±0.5°, 77.5°±0.5° and 81°±0.5° in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation.

5 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein a ratio (A spinel /A total ) of an area (A spinel ) of peaks due to a spinel structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.1 to 99.8.

6 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein a ratio (A DRX /A total ) of an area (A DRX ) of peaks due to the DRX structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.2 to 0.99.

7 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein the lithium oxide comprises Li 1.25 Mn 2 O 4 .

8 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein a ratio (A spinel /A total ) of an area (A spinel ) of peaks due to a spinel structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is 0.4 to 0.6.

9 . The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein a ratio (A DRX /A total ) of an area (A DRX ) of peaks due to the DRX structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.4 to 0.6.

10 . A manufacturing method of a cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries having a multiphase structure comprising at least a cation-disordered rock salt (DRX) structure, the manufacturing method comprising:
preparing raw materials; acquiring an intermediate substance by crushing the raw materials; and
acquiring a lithium oxide according to a chemical formula Li 1+x Mn 2 O 4 by heat-treating the intermediate substance,
wherein x satisfies a relationship 0≤x≤0.75.

11 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein, in acquiring the intermediate substance, the raw materials are crushed by applying a force in a range of 10 G to 20 G to the raw materials for 10 hours to 30 hours using a ball mill.

12 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein the cathode active material comprises at least two of a layered structure, a spinel structure, or the DRX structure.

13 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein the cathode active material exhibits peaks at 2θ=19°±0.5°, 31°±0.5°, 36.5°±0.5°, 48.5°±0.5°, 55°±0.5°, 58.5°±0.5°, 67.5°±0.5°, 68.5°±0.5°, 76°±0.5° and 84°±0.5° in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation.

14 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein the cathode active material exhibits peaks at 2θ=38°±0.5°, 44.5°±0.5°, 64.5°±0.5°, 77.5°±0.5° and 81°±0.5° in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation.

15 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein a ratio (A spinel /A total ) of an area (A spinel ) of peaks due to a spinel structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.1 to 99.8.

16 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein a ratio (A DRX /A total ) of an area (A DRX ) of peaks due to the DRX structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.2 to 0.99.

17 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein the lithium oxide comprises Li 1.25 Mn 2 O 4 .

18 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein a ratio (A spinel /A total ) of an area (A spinel ) of peaks due to a spinel structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.4 to 0.6.

19 . The manufacturing method of claim 10 , wherein a ratio (A DRX /A total ) of an area (A DRX ) of peaks due to the DRX structure to a total area (A total ) of all peaks of the cathode active material exhibited in X-ray diffraction analysis using Cuk α radiation is in a range of 0.4 to 0.6.

Assignees

• Hyundai Motor Co Ltd
• Kia Corp
• Ulsan Nat Inst Science & Tech Unist

Inventors

• Park Je Sik
• Min Hong Seok
• Noh Sung Woo
• Seo Jeong Hyun
• Seo Im Sul
• Seong Ju Yeong
• Lim Chung Bum
• Seo Dong Hwa
• Lee Eun Ryeol
• Park Sang Wook
• Kim Ho Joon

Classifications

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• C01G45/1242

  of the type (Mn2O4)-, e.g. LiMn2O4 or Li(MxMn2-x)O4 · 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

• 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

• H01M10/052

  Li-accumulators · CPC title