Lithium metal oxide electrodes for lithium batteries

1. An electrode for a non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell, comprising a lithium metal oxide having the formula, Li (2+2x)/(2+x) M′ 2x/(2+x) M (2−2x)/(2+x) O 2−δ , in which 0<x<1 and δ is greater than zero and less than 0.2, and in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more of the first row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first and second row transition metal elements and Sn.

2. The electrode of claim 1 , where δ is less than 0.1.

3. The electrode of claim 1 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, Mg and Al, and M′ is selected from Ti, Mn, Zr, Ru and Sn.

4. The electrode of claim 3 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Ti and Mn.

5. The electrode of claim 4 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Mn.

6. The electrode of claim 5 , in which M is selected from Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Mn.

7. The electrode of claim 1 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni and Mn and x=0.

8. A method of synthesizing the electrode of claim 1 in which a xLi 2 M′O 3 .(1−x)LiMO 2 electrode is subjected to a reducing environment at a temperature between about 150° C. and about 1000° C.

9. A method according to claim 8 in which the reducing environment consists of one or more of ammonia gas, hydrogen gas, nitrogen gas and carbon.

10. A method according to claim 9 , in which the reducing environment is ammonia gas.

11. A method according to claim 8 , in which the reducing temperature is between 150° C. and 600° C.

12. A method according to claim 11 , in which the reducing temperature is between 150° C. and 400° C.

13. An electrode made according to the method of claim 8 .

14. An electrode for a non-aqueous lithium cell, having the formula of xLi 2−y H y O.xM′O 2 .(1−x)Li 1−z H z MO 2 compounds in which 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0<z<1 made from a lithium metal oxide xLi 2 M′O 3 .(1−x)LiMO 2 , in which 0<x<1, and in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more first-row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first- and second-row transition metal elements and Sn, the electrodes being preconditioned in a proton-containing medium with a pH<7.0.

15. The electrode of claim 14 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni, Mn, Ti, Mg and Al, and M′ is selected from Ti, Mn, Zr, Ru and Sn.

16. The electrode of claim 15 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Ti and Mn.

17. The electrode of claim 16 , in which M is selected from Co, Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Mn.

18. The electrode of claim 17 , in which M is selected from Ni and Mn, and M′ is selected from Mn.

19. A method of synthesizing the electrode of claim 14 by subjecting the xLi 2 M′O 3 .(1−x)LiMO 2 electrode to a proton-containing medium with pH<7.0 and thereafter heating the electrode above 100° C. for less than 24 hours.

20. A method according to claim 19 in which the electrode is heated below 400° C.

21. A method according to claim 19 in which the proton-containing medium consists of de-ionized water, nitric acid, acetic acid, or hydrochloric acid.

22. An electrode made according to the method of claim 19 .

23. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein said preconditioned electrode is at least partially dehydrated at a temperature above about 100° C.

24. A non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell having a negative electrode, an electrolyte and a positive electrode according to claim 23 .

25. A non-aqueous lithium battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected electrochemical cells according to claim 24 .

26. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein said proton-containing medium contains an inorganic acid.

27. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein said proton-containing medium contains HF.

28. The electrode of claim 14 , wherein said proton-containing medium contains fluoride ions.

29. A non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, an electrolyte and an positive electrode having a lithium metal oxide having the formula in which Li (2+2x)/(2+x) M′ 2x/(2+x) M (2−2x)/(2+x) O 2−δ , in which 0<x<1 and δ is greater than zero and less than 0.2, and in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more of the first row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first and second row transition metal elements and Sn.

30. A non-aqueous lithium electrochemical cell comprising a negative electrode, an electrolyte and an positive electrode having the formula of xLi 2−y H y O.xM′O 2 .(1−x) Li 1−z H z MO 2 compounds in which 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0<z<1 made from a lithium metal oxide of xLi 2 M′O 3 .(1−x)LiMO 2 , in which 0<x<1, and in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more first-row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first- and second-row transition metal elements and Sn.

31. A non-aqueous lithium battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected electrochemical cells, each cell having a negative electrode, an electrolyte and a positive electrode formula xLi 2−y H y O·xM′O 2 .(1x)Li 1−z H z MO 2 compounds in xLi 2 M′O 3 .(1−x)LiMO 2 , in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more of the first row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first and second row transition metal elements and Sn.

32. A non-aqueous lithium battery comprising a plurality of electrically connected electrochemical cells, each cell having a negative electrode, an electrolyte and a positive electrode having the formula xLi 2−y H y O.xM′O 2 .(1−x)Li 1−z H z MO 2 compounds in which 0<x<1, 0<y<1 and 0<z<1 made from a lithium metal oxide of xLi 2 M′O 3 . (1−x)LiMO 2 , in which 0<x<1, and in which M is a non-lithium metal ion with an average trivalent oxidation state selected from two or more first-row transition metals or lighter metal elements in the periodic table, and M′ is one or more ions with an average tetravalent oxidation state selected from the first- and second-row transition metal elements and Sn.