IP Library › Granted Patent US 7,939,049
Granted Patent B2
US 7,939,049 · App. 12/378,899 · Granted May 10, 2011

Cathode material containing Ni-based lithium transition metal oxide

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,939,049
App. No.
12/378,899
Granted
May 10, 2011
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention provides for Ni-based lithium transition metal oxide cathode active materials used in lithium ion secondary batteries. The cathode active materials are substantially free of Li 2 CO 3 impurity and soluble bases.

Claims (41)

1. A cathode active material comprising: a storage stable lithium transition metal oxide of the general formula

Li x ((Ni 1−a−b (Ni 1/2 Mn 1/2 ) a Co b ) 1−k A k ) 2−x O 2 ,

wherein 0.65≦a+b≦0.85, 0.1≦b≦0.4,

A is a dopant,

0≦k≦0.05, and

0.95≦x≦1.05,

wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124.

2. The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least one of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

3. The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least two of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

4. The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, and (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

5. The cathode active material of claim 1 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide is characterized by the formula of about LiNi 4/15 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 8/15 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 0.267 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 0.53 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 8/15 Mn 4/15 Co 3/15 O 2 .

6. A cathode active material comprising: a storage stable lithium transition metal oxide of the general formula

Li x ((Ni 1−a−b (Ni 1/2 Mn 1/2 ) a Co b ) 1−k A k ) 2−x O 2 ,

wherein 0.65≦a+b≦0.85, 0.1≦b≦0.4,

A is a dopant,

0≦k≦0.05, and

0.95≦x≦1.05,

wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement.

7. The cathode active material of claim 6 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least one of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

8. The cathode active material of claim 6 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least two of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

9. The cathode active material of claim 6 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide is characterized by the formula of about LiNi 4/15 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 8/15 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 0.267 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 0.53 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 8/15 Mn 4/15 Co 3/15 O 2 .

10. A cathode active material comprising: a storage stable lithium transition metal oxide of the general formula

Li x ((Ni 1−a−b (Ni 1/2 Mn 1/2 ) a Co b ) 1−k A k ) 2−x O 2 ,

wherein 0.65≦a+b≦0.85, 0.1≦b≦0.4,

A is a dopant,

0≦k≦0.05, and

0.95≦x≦1.05,

wherein, said lithium transition metal oxide has a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g.

11. The cathode active material of claim 10 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least one of (a) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

12. The cathode active material of claim 10 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least two of (a) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124, or (c) a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

13. The cathode active material of claim 10 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide is characterized by the formula of about LiNi 4/15 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 8/15 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 0.267 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 0.53 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 8/15 Mn 4/15 Co 3/15 O 2 .

14. A cathode active material comprising: a storage stable lithium transition metal oxide of the general formula

Li x ((Ni 1−a−b (Ni1/2Mn 1/2 ) a Co b ) 1−k A k ) 2−x O 2 ,

wherein 0.65≦a+b≦0.85, 0.1≦b≦0.4,

A is a dopant,

0≦k≦0.05, and

0.95≦x≦1.05,

wherein, said lithium transition metal oxide has a unit cell volume from about 33.902 Å 3 to about 33.957 Å 3 .

15. The cathode active material of claim 14 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least one of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, or (c) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124.

16. The cathode active material of claim 14 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide has at least two of (a) a BET surface area between about 0.4 m 2 /g to about 0.8 m 2 /g, (b) a stable layered crystalline microstructure exhibiting cation mixing from about 3.9% to about 4.5% as measured by Reitveld refinement, or (c) a stable layered crystalline microstructure having a normalized c:a ratio from about 1.0117 to about 1.0124.

17. The cathode active material of claim 14 , wherein said lithium transition metal oxide is characterized by the formula of about LiNi 4/15 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 8/15 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 0.267 (Mn 1/2 Ni 1/2 ) 0.53 Co 0.2 O 2 or LiNi 8/15 Mn 4/15 Co 3/15 O 2 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 4, 2021
From: LG CHEM, LTD.
To: LG ENERGY SOLUTION, LTD.
Reel/Frame 058295/0068 →