ELECTRODE FOR RECHARGEABLE BATTERIES USING AQUEOUS BINDER SOLUTION FOR LI-ION BATTERIES

1 . An electrode mix comprising:

a water soluble binder; and

an active material coated in a sufficient amount of a coating material selected from the group consisting of ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 , Y 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , Li 2 TiO 3 , CaTiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , SrO, CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 , carbon and combinations thereof, to provide a pH of the mix below about 12.

2 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of the coating material is sufficient to provide the pH of the mix between about 10 and about 12.

3 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , further comprising a water soluble thickener.

4 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the water soluble binder comprises a polyacrylonitrile-acrylamide polymer and water.

5 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the active material is selected from the group consisting of LiNi y CO x M z O 2 , where M is selected from the group consisting of Mn, Al, Sn, In, Ga and Ti and 0.15<x<0.5, 0.5<y<0.8 and 0<z<0.15 and Li[Li (1−2y)/3 Ni y Mn (2−y)/3 ]O 2 , Li[Li (1−y)/3 CO y Mn (2−2y)/3 ]O 2 and Li[Ni y CO 1−2y Mn y ]O 2 where x=(2−y)/3, 0<y<0.5, LiNiCoO 2 MnO 2 , Li 1+y [Ni 1/3 CO 1/3 Mn 1/3 ] 1−y O 2 , 0<x<0.33, 0<y<0.15 where y=(x/2+x), xLi 2 MnO 3 , (1−x)Li[NiCoMn]O 2 , Li (1+y) [Ni 0.5 Co 0.2 Mn 0.3 ] 1−y O 2 , 0<x<0.3, 0<y<0.130, where y=(x/2+x), and combinations thereof.

6 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of ZnO.

7 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of In 2 O 3 .

8 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of SnO 2 .

9 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of Y 2 O 3 .

10 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of La 2 O 3 .

11 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of Li 2 TiO 3 .

12 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of CaTiO 3 .

13 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of SrO.

14 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .

15 . The electrode mix according to claim 1 , wherein the coating material consists of carbon.

16 . (canceled)

17 . A method of manufacturing an electrode according to the steps of:

a) providing an active material having a pH lower than about 12;

b) making a slurry from the active material, a water soluble binder, and water;

c) coating at least part of an electrode with the slurry; and

d) drying the slurry to remove the water.

18 . The method according to claim 16 , wherein step a) comprises the step of surface coating the active material with a coating material selected from the group consisting of ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 , Y 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , Li 2 TiO 3 , CaTiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , SrO, and CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 .

19 . The method according to claim 17 , wherein step a) comprises coating a sufficient amount of the coating material onto the active material to provide the pH of the slurry between about 10 and about 12.

20 . An electrode manufactured according to a method of:

a) providing an active material;

b) surface coating the active material with a coating material selected from the group consisting of ZnO, In 2 O 3 , SnO 2 , Y 2 O 3 , La 2 O 3 , Li 2 TiO 3 , CaTiO 3 , BaTiO 3 , SrO, and CO 3 (PO 4 ) 2 ;

c) making a slurry from the coated active material, a water soluble binder, and water;

d) coating at least part of an electrode with the slurry; and

e) drying the slurry to remove the water.

21 . An electrode manufactured according to the method of claim 19 , wherein step b) comprises coating a sufficient amount of the coating material onto the active material to provide the pH of the slurry between about 10 and about 12.