Cathode materials having oxide surface species

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2025246616-A1
Application number	US-202218703174-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 15, 2022
Priority date	Dec 17, 2021
Publication date	Jul 31, 2025
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns lithium zirconium phosphate (LZP) chemical oxides for coated cathode active materials, which are useful in cathodes (i.e., positive electrodes) of rechargeable lithium-batteries for reversibly storing lithium ions (Li + ).

First claim

1 - 54 . (canceled)

55 . A composition comprising:
a cathode active material, wherein the cathode active material is LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 , x+y+z=1, 0≤x≤1, 0≤y≤1, and 0≤z≤1; and at least one oxide bonded to the cathode active material, wherein the at least one oxide bonded to the cathode active material is a coating on the cathode active material; wherein the at least one oxide bonded to the cathode active material comprises lithium (Li), oxygen (O), and at least one of zirconium (Zr) and phosphorus (P); wherein the molar ratios of Li, Zr, P, and O, are represented by the formula 0.5≤x≤7.0, 1.0≤y≤3.0, 1.0≤a≤4.0, and 5.0≤d≤14.0; wherein subscripts x, y, a, and d, are selected so the at least one oxide is charge neutral and y and a are not both zero; wherein the composition has a ratio of Zr:Ni, as measured by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of 0.3 to 3.2; and wherein the composition comprises between about 5 weight % and 10 weight % of lithium as measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, less than about 1 weight % of zirconium as measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, less than about 0.5 weight % of phosphorus as measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, less than about 65 weight % of manganese, cobalt, and nickel as measured by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) analysis, or a combination thereof.

56 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the at least one oxide bonded to the cathode active material is represented by the formula Li x Zr y P a O d , wherein 1.0≤x≤2.0, 1.0≤y≤3.0, 2.0≤a≤4.0, and 11.0≤d≤13.0.

57 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the at least one oxide is amorphous or crystalline.

58 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coated cathode active material comprises a second coating, wherein the second coating comprises Li x B y O z , wherein 0.2≤x≤0.75, 0.5≤y≤1.6, and 1.5≤z≤2.6; Li x Zr y O z , wherein 0≤x≤1.6, 0.2≤y≤1.0, and 2≤z≤1.2; Li x P y O z , wherein 0.6≤x≤1.5, 0.5≤y≤1.4, and 2.0≤z≤3.7; or a combination thereof.

59 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the at least one oxide is lattice-matched with the cathode active material.

60 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the cathode active material is
LiNi x Mn y Co z O 2 , and either (a)-(h): (a) x is 0.8, y is 0.1, and z is 0.1; (b) x is 0.6, y is 0.2, and z is 0.2; (c) x is 0.5, y is 0.3, and z is 0.2; (d) x is ⅓, y is ⅓, and z is ⅓; (e) 0.8≤x≤0.97, 0≤y≤0.2, and 0≤z≤0.2; (f) 0.8≤x≤0.90, 0≤y≤0.2, and 0≤z≤0.2; (g) 0.8≤x≤0.85, 0≤y≤0.2, and 0≤z≤0.2; or (h) 0.8≤x≤0.83, 0≤y≤0.2, and 0≤z≤0.2

64 . The composition of claim 55 , characterized by an atomic percent ratio of Zr:Ni as determined by XPS between about 0.5 and 2.5.

65 . The composition of claim 55 , characterized by an atomic percent ratio of Zr:Ni of about 0.38, about 0.55, about 1.1, about 1.3, about 3.0, or about 3.2.

66 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material is continuous.

67 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material is discontinuous.

68 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material has a thickness, T, as determined by TEM analysis, that is between about 0.7 nm≤T≤20 nm.

69 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material comprises crystalline domains as determined by TEM analysis.

70 . The composition of claim 55 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material comprises amorphous domains as determined by TEM analysis.

71 . The composition of claim 70 , wherein the coating on the cathode active material comprises crystalline domains and amorphous domains as determined by TEM analysis and wherein the crystalline domains are in contact with the cathode and the amorphous domains are in contact with the crystalline domains.

72 . The composition of claim 71 , wherein thickness of the crystalline domain is between about 0.8 nm and 5 nm and the thickness of the amorphous domain is between about 0.8 nm and 5 nm.

73 . A cathode comprising the composition of claim 55 .

74 . A process for making a composition of claim 55 ; comprising:
(1) coating a cathode active material with a solution of a) LiOH and b) a zirconium precursor and a phosphorus precursor; (2) removing the solvent from the solution to provide a cathode active material bonded to the oxide; and (3) heating the cathode active material under dry air conditions to form a coated cathode active material.

Assignees

• Quantumscape Battery Inc

Inventors

• Chao Cheng-Chieh
• Chavez Sarah
• Chung Hyeseung
• Ito Seitaro
• Katoh Yuki
• Konstantin Lokshin
• Ohashi Akinari
• Silver Jessa
• Tian Yaosen
• Xu Virgil
• Yu Zhenfeng

Classifications

• H01M2004/021

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

• H01M4/505

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

• H01M4/0471

  involving thermal treatment, e.g. firing, sintering, backing particulate active material, thermal decomposition, pyrolysis · CPC title

• H01M2004/028

  Positive electrodes · CPC title

• H01M4/5825

  Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines · CPC title