Electrodes and rechargeable batteries
View Patent ↗The present invention provides cathodes, methods of making cathodes, and electrochemical cells (e.g., batteries) that employ these cathodes having improved properties over traditional cathodes, methods, or electrochemical cells.
1. A cathode for use in a rechargeable battery comprising:
a cathode active material comprising:
a stabilizing agent comprising a powder having a mean particle diameter of 200 nm or less; and
manganese,
wherein the powder comprises ZnO particles that are doped with from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of Al 2 O 3 by weight of the ZnO particles, and the powder optionally comprises ZrO 2 , SiO 2 , or any combination thereof.
2. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material comprises manganese, and the manganese comprises Mn, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn(OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 4 , MnO 2 (OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 3 , MnOOH, Mn(ONa) 2 , Mn(OK) 2 , Mn(OLi) 2 , Mn(ORb) 2 , MnOONa, MnOOK, MnOOLi, MnOORb, ZnFeMnO 2 , (MnFe) 2 O 3 , NiMnO 4 , any hydrate thereof, or any combination thereof.
3. The cathode of claim 1 , wherein the cathode active material comprises about 0.5 wt % or less of the stabilizing agent by weight of the active material.
4. The cathode of claim 2 , wherein the manganese is doped with a first dopant comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
5. The cathode of claim 2 , wherein the manganese is coated with a coating agent comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
6. An electrochemical cell comprising
a cathode comprising
a cathode active material comprising manganese and a stabilizing agent;
an anode comprising Zn; and
an electrolyte,
wherein the stabilizing agent comprises a powder having a mean particle diameter of 200 nm or less, the powder comprises ZnO particles that are doped with from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of Al 2 O 3 by weight of the ZnO particles, and the powder optionally comprises ZrO 2 particles, SiO 2 particles, or any combination thereof, and the manganese is associated with at least one particle of a stabilizing agent.
7. The cell of claim 6 , wherein the manganese comprises Mn, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn(OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 4 , MnO 2 (OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 3 , MnOOH, Mn(ONa) 2 , Mn(OK) 2 , Mn(OLi) 2 , Mn(ORb) 2 , MnOONa, MnOOK, MnOOLi, MnOORb, ZnFeMnO 2 , (MnFe) 2 O 3 , NiMnO 4 , any hydrate thereof, or any combination thereof.
8. The cell of claim 7 , wherein the manganese comprises a first dopant comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
9. The cell of claim 7 , wherein manganese is coated with a coating agent comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
10. A rechargeable battery comprising
a cathode comprising
a cathode active material comprising manganese and a stabilizing agent;
an anode comprising zinc; and
an electrolyte,
wherein the stabilizing agent comprises a powder having a mean particle diameter of 100 nm or less, the powder comprises ZnO particles that are doped with from about 1 wt % to about 10 wt % of Al 2 O 3 by weight of the ZnO particles, and the powder optionally comprises ZrO 2 particles, SiO 2 particles, or any combination thereof.
11. The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the manganese comprises Mn, MnO, MnO 2 , Mn 2 O 3 , Mn 3 O 4 , Mn(OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 4 , MnO 2 (OH) 2 , Mn(OH) 3 , MnOOH, Mn(ONa) 2 , Mn(OK) 2 , Mn(OLi) 2 , Mn(ORb) 2 , MnOONa, MnOOK, MnOOLi, MnOORb, ZnFeMnO 2 , (MnFe) 2 O 3 , NiMnO 4 , any hydrate thereof, or any combination thereof.
12. The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the cathode active material comprises about 7 wt % or less of the stabilizing agent.
13. The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the manganese is doped with a first dopant comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
14. The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the manganese is coated with a coating agent comprising Pb, B, Al, Ga, Zn, Ni, Pd, In, Ag, or any combination thereof.
15. The rechargeable battery of claim 10 , wherein the manganese is doped with a first dopant comprising Ga, and the manganese is coated with a coating agent comprising Pb.