Lithium-metal composite oxides and electrochemical device using the same

1. A lithium-containing metal composite oxide comprising paramagnetic and diamagnetic metals, the composite oxide satisfying any one of the following conditions:

(a) the ratio of intensity between a main peak of 0±10 ppm (I 0ppm ) and a main peak of 240±140 ppm (I 240ppm ), (I 0ppm /I 240ppm ), is less than 0.117·Z wherein Z is the ratio of moles of the diamagnetic metal to moles of lithium;

(b) the ratio of line width between the main peak of 0±10 ppm (I 0ppm ) and the main peak of 240±140 ppm (I 240ppm ), (W 240ppm /W 0ppm ), is less than 21.45; and

(c) both the conditions (a) and (b), the peaks being obtained according to the following 7 Li—NMR measurement conditions and means:

[Measurement Conditions]

a 300-MHz solid state NMR system;

MAS spinning rate: 32 kHz;

spectral frequency: 116.6420 MHz;

temperature: room temperature (25° C.);

chemical shift value standard: 1M LiCl in H 2 O;

pulse sequence: spin echo (90°-τ1-180°-τ2);

spectrum width: 500,000 Hz;

pulse length: 90° pulse length −2.25 μsec, and 180° pulse length −4.50 μsec;

dwell time (τ1): 31.25 μsec; and

pulse delay: 2 sec.

2. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , wherein, in the 7 Li—NMR measurement, the ratio of intensity between the main peak of 0±10 ppm (I 0ppm ) and the main peak of 240±140 ppm (I 240ppm ) (I 0ppm /I 240ppm ) is less than 0.039.

3. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , wherein, in the 7 Li—NMR measurement, the ratio of intensity between the main peak of 0±10 ppm (I 0ppm ) and the main peak of 240±140 ppm (I 240ppm ), (I 0ppm /I 240ppm ), is 0.021 or less.

4. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , wherein, in the 7 Li—NMR measurement, the ratio of line width between the main peak of 0±10 ppm (I 0ppm ) and the main peak of 240±140 ppm (I 240ppm ), (W 240ppm /W 0ppm ), is 20.30 or less.

5. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , wherein the metal components other than lithium are more than two metals.

6. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , which is represented by the following formula 1 or formula 2:

Li 1+a A 1-x C x O 2-b X b (−0.5 ≦a≦+ 0.5,0 ≦b≦+ 0.1,0 ≦x≦+ 0.1); and  [Formula 1]

Li 1+a B 2-x-y A′ x C y O 4-b X b (−0.5 ≦a≦+ 0.5,0 ≦b≦+ 0.1,0 ≦x≦+ 2,0 ≦y≦ 0.1),  [Formula 2]

wherein A is at least two elements selected from among transition metals having a six-coordinate structure;

A′ is at least one element selected from among transition metals having a six-coordinate structure;

B represents at least two elements selected from among transition metals having a four-coordinate structure;

C is at least one element selected from among alkaline earth metals and Group 3B elements; and

X is at least one element selected from Groups 5B, 6B and 7B elements.

7. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 6 , wherein, in the formula 1, A represents more than two metals selected from among Ni, Co and Mn, C is Al or Mg, and X is F, S or N.

8. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 6 , wherein, in the formula 2, B or A′ is an element selected from among Ni, Co and Mn, C is Al or Mg, and X is F, S or N.

9. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , which is Li i+a Ni i-x-y Mn x Co y O 2 (−0.5<a<0.5, 0<x<1, 0<y<1) or Li 1+a Ni 1-x-y (Al or Mg) x Co y O 2 (−0.5≦a<0.5, 0<x<0.1, 0<y<1).

10. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , which is in the form of granules.

11. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 10 , wherein the granules have a size of 1-100 μm.

12. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , which has a tap density higher than 1.8 g/cm 3 .

13. The lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 , which is prepared by mixing an aqueous metal precursor solution containing more than two transition metals, with an alkalifying agent and a lithium precursor compound, to precipitate hydroxides of the transition metals other than lithium, mixing the mixture with water under supercritical or subcritical conditions to synthesize a lithium-metal composite oxide, in which lithium ions are inserted into the precipitated transition metal hydroxide particles, and drying, granulating and calcining the synthesized lithium-metal composite oxide.

14. An electrode comprising the lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 .

15. An electrochemical device comprising:

(a) a cathode comprising the lithium-containing metal composite oxide of claim 1 ;

(b) an anode;

(c) an electrolyte; and

(d) a separator.

16. The electrochemical device of claim 15 , which is a lithium secondary battery.