Electrode active material containing polydopamine and lithium secondary battery including the same

1. An electrode active material comprising: particles of a lithium metal oxide; and a polydopamine layer formed on a surface of each of the particles.

2. The electrode active material according to claim 1 , wherein the polydopamine layer contains moisture.

3. The electrode active material according to claim 2 , wherein a weight of the electrode active material continuously decreases as temperature increases, in thermogravimetric analysis (TGA).

4. The electrode active material according to claim 1 , wherein an amount of polydopamine is in a range of 0.5 wt % to 5 wt % based on a total weight of the electrode active material.

5. The electrode active material according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal oxide is represented by Formula (1) below:

Li a M′ b O 4−c A c   (1)

wherein M′ is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Sn, Cu, Pb, Sb, Zn, Fe, In, Al, and Zr;

0.1≦a≦4 and 0.2≦b≦4, wherein a and b are determined according to an oxidation number of M′;

0≦c≦0.2, wherein c is determined according to an oxidation number of A; and

A is at least one monovalent or divalent anion.

6. The electrode active material according to claim 5 , wherein the lithium metal oxide of Formula (1) is represented by Formula (2) below:

Li a Ti b O 4   (2)

wherein 0.5≦a≦3 and 1≦b≦2.5.

7. The electrode active material according to claim 6 , wherein the lithium metal oxide is Li 1.33 Ti 1.67 O 4 or LiTi 2 O 4 .

8. The electrode active material according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal oxide is a spinel-structure oxide represented by Formula (3) below:

Li x M y Mn 2−y O 4−z A z   (3)

wherein 0.9≦x≦1.2, 0<y<2, and 0≦z<0.2;

M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Fe, Cr, V, Ti, Cu, B, Ca, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sr, Sb, W, Ti, and Bi; and

A is at least one monovalent or divalent anion.

9. The electrode active material according to claim 8 , wherein the spinel structure oxide of Formula (3) is represented by Formula (4) below:

Li x Ni y Mn 2−y O 4   (4)

wherein 0.9≦x≦1.2 and 0.4≦y≦0.5.

10. The electrode active material according to claim 9 , wherein the lithium metal oxide is LiNi 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , or LiNi 0.4 Mn 1.6 O 4 .

11. A lithium secondary battery comprising: an electrode assembly comprising a cathode, an anode, and a polymer membrane disposed between the cathode and the anode; and a battery case to accommodate the electrode assembly, wherein at least one of the cathode and the anode comprises the electrode active material according to according to claim 1 .

12. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein the lithium secondary battery is a lithium ion battery.

13. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein the lithium secondary battery is a lithium polymer battery.

14. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein the lithium secondary battery is a lithium ion polymer battery.

15. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein a ratio of discharge capacity at 6 C to discharge capacity at 0.1 C is 0.80 or higher.

16. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 11 , wherein a ratio of discharge capacity at 10 C to discharge capacity at 0.1 C is 0.58 or higher.