Metal phosphate coatings for Li-ion batteries
Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) which include a metal phosphate coating material reactive (scavenging) or stable with cathode materials, HF, LiF, PF 5 − , and LiOH. The metal phosphates may be applied on the cathode material of LIBs.
1 . A coated cathode comprising:
a cathode for a lithium ion battery; and
a coating material on at least a portion of the cathode, wherein the coating material comprises a metal phosphate selected from the group consisting of Sn 5 (PO 5 ) 2 , Bi 3 PO 7 , and mixtures thereof.
2 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the coating material comprises mixtures of AlPO 4 and the metal phosphate selected from the group consisting of Sn 5 (PO 5 ) 2 , and Bi 3 PO 7 , and mixtures thereof.
3 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein:
the cathode comprises a material having a formula Li—(Fe a Ni b Mn c Co d )—P x O y ;
Li is lithium, Fe is iron, Ni is a nickel, Mn is manganese, Co is cobalt, P is phosphorous, O is oxygen;
a, b, c and d are numbers from 0 to 1 and a+b+c+d=1; and
x is a number equal to 1 or 2, and y is a number equal to 3, 4, 5, 7, or 9.
4 . The coated cathode of claim 3 , wherein the a is 1, x is 1 and y is 4, and wherein the material has the formula of LiFePO 4 .
5 . The coated cathode of claim 3 , wherein a is 0.8, c is 0.2, x is 1 and y is 4, and wherein the material has the formula of LiFe 0.8 Mn 0.2 PO 4 .
6 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the coating material is deposited as a layer on a portion of a surface of the cathode.
7 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the coating material is deposited as a layer on an entire surface of the cathode.
8 . The coated cathode of claim 6 , wherein the layer has a thickness of 0.1 to 15 nm.
9 . The coated cathode of claim 6 , wherein the layer has a thickness of 2 to 5 nm.
10 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the coating material comprises Bi 3 PO 7 .
11 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the coating material comprises Sn 5 (PO 5 ) 2 .
12 . The coated cathode of claim 1 , wherein the lithium ion battery further comprises:
an anode;
an electrolyte disposed between the anode and the coated cathode; and
a separator;
wherein the lithium-ion battery is housed in an electric vehicle.
13 . A method of assembling a lithium ion battery, comprising:
providing a separator;
providing an anode;
providing the coated cathode of claim 1 ; and
arranging the separator, anode and the coated cathode such that the separator is between the anode and the coated cathode.
14 . A lithium ion battery pack, comprising:
a first plurality of lithium ion battery cells, each comprising a cathode having a first coating material according to claim 1 ; and
a second plurality of lithium ion battery cells, each comprising a cathode having a second coating material different than the first coating material, wherein the first and second plurality of lithium ion battery cells are electrically coupled together to form the lithium ion battery pack.
15 . The lithium ion battery pack of claim 14 , wherein the first plurality of lithium ion battery cells is positioned within the lithium ion battery pack at one or more hotspots.
16 . The lithium ion battery pack of claim 14 , wherein the lithium ion battery pack comprises a plurality of battery modules, wherein a first one of the battery modules comprises only lithium ion battery cells of the second plurality of lithium ion battery cells and a second one of the battery modules comprises lithium ion battery cells of the first plurality of lithium ion battery cells.