POLYMER ACIDS AS BINDER AND PH REDUCING AGENT FOR AQUEOUS LITHIUM-ION CELLS

1 . A slurry for a positive electrode for an electrochemical cell, the slurry comprising:

a positive active material consisting essentially of a lithium transition metal oxide;

a water-soluble polymeric binder;

and water;

where in the slurry has a pH in the range of 7 to 11 and would have a pH of at least 11.8 in the absence of the water-soluble polymeric binder.

2 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the slurry has a pH in the range of 7 to 11.

3 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the water-soluble polymeric binder comprises a carboxylic acid.

4 . The slurry of claim 3 , wherein the carboxylic acid is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyacrylic acid, polysuccinic acid, poly maleic acid and anhydride, poly furoic (pyromucic acid), poly fumaric acid, poly sorbic acid, poly linoleic acid, poly linolenic acid, poly glutamic acid, poly methacrylic acid, poly licanic acid, poly glycolic acid, poly aspartic acid, poly amic acid, poly formic acid, poly acetic acid, poly propoionic acid, poly butyric acid, poly sebacic acid, and copolymers thereof.

5 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the slurry is formed in the absence of a thickener.

6 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the slurry further comprises a conductive additive.

7 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the slurry further comprises a lithium hydroxide solution.

8 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the positive active material is selected from the group consisting of LiFePO 4 , LiNiCoAlO 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiCoO 2 , LiNiCoMnO 2 , lithium transition metal oxides containing nickel and cobalt compounds, LiNi y Co x M z O, where M=Mn, Al, Sn, In, Ga or Ti and 0.15<x<0.5, 0.5<y<0.8 and 0<z<0.15, 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 and 0<y<0.5, LiNiCoO 2 .MnO 2 , lithium rich compounds Li 1+y (Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 ) 1−y O 2 , where x=0-0.33, y=(x/(2+x)) and xLi 2 MnO 3 (1−x)Li(NiCoMn)O 2 and Li (1+y) (Ni 0.5 CO 0.2 Mn 0.3 ) 1−y O 2 , where x=0-0.33, y=(x/(2+x)), and LiMPO 4 , where M is one or more of the first row transition-metal cations selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and combinations thereof.

9 . The slurry of claim 1 , wherein the slurry comprises 10 to 90 percent positive active material by weight and 1 to 10 percent water-soluble polymeric binder by weight.

10 . A method of forming a electrochemical cell electrode comprising the steps of:

a) forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder, and water, the slurry having a pH equal to or greater than 11.8 in the absence of the water-soluble polymeric binder;

b) providing a sufficient amount of the water-soluble binder in the slurry to reduce the pH of the slurry to between 7 and 11;

c) coating at least a portion of a current collector with the slurry; and

d) drying the slurry onto the current collector.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder, a lithium hydroxide solution and water.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein step a) further comprises combining the lithium hydroxide solution with the water-soluble binder and the water prior to adding the positive active material to the slurry.

13 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder, a lithium hydroxide solution and water, wherein the positive active material is selected from the group consisting of LiFePO 4 , LiNiCoAlO 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiCoO 2 , LiNiCoMnO 2 , lithium transition metal oxides containing nickel and cobalt compounds, LiNi y Co x M z O, where M=Mn, Al, Sn, In, Ga or Ti and 0.15<x<0.5, 0.5<y<0.8 and 0<z<0.15, Li[Li (1−y)/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 and 0<y<0.5, LiNiCoO 2 .MnO 2 , lithium rich compounds Li 1+y (Ni 1/3 Co 1/3 Mn 1/3 ) 1−y O 2 , where x=0-0.33, y=(x/(2+x)) and xLi 2 MnO 3 (1−x)Li(NiCoMn)O 2 and Li (1+y) (Ni 0.5 CO 0.2 Mn 0.3 ) 1−y O 2 , where x=0-0.33, y=(x/(2+x)), and LiMPO 4 , where M is one or more of the first row transition-metal cations selected from the group consisting of V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and combinations thereof.

14 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder consisting of a carboxylic acid-containing polymer, and water.

15 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder, and water, wherein the water-soluble polymeric binder is selected from the group consisting of polylactic acid (PLA), polyacrylic acid, polysuccinic acid, poly maleic acid and anhydride, poly furoic (pyromucic acid), poly fumaric acid, poly sorbic acid, poly linoleic acid, poly linolenic acid, poly glutamic acid, poly methacrylic acid, poly licanic acid, poly glycolic acid, poly aspartic acid, poly amic acid, poly formic acid, poly acetic acid, poly propoionic acid, poly butyric acid, poly sebacic acid, and copolymers thereof.

16 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry comprising a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder consisting of polyacrylic acid, and water.

17 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the slurry is formed in the absence of a thickener.

18 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein step a) further comprises forming a slurry consisting essentially of a positive active material, a water-soluble polymeric binder, a lithium hydroxide solution, a conductive additive and water.