IP Library Granted Patent US 10,476,079
Granted Patent B2
US 10,476,079 · App. 14/947,654 · Granted Nov 12, 2019

Lithium secondary battery

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,476,079
App. No.
14/947,654
Granted
Nov 12, 2019
Kind
B2
Abstract

A lithium secondary battery comprises a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte. The cathode includes a cathode active material containing lithium-metal oxide of which at least one of metals has a continuous concentration gradient from a core part to a surface part thereof, and is doped with transitional metal. The lithium-metal oxide includes elements M1, M2 and M3. One of M1, M2 and M3 has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration increases from the core part to the surface part.

Claims (41)

1. A lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte,

wherein the cathode includes a cathode active material consisting of one or more lithium-metal oxides containing Ni, Co, and Mn,

and wherein at least one of the lithium-metal oxides includes a compound represented by Formula 1 below which is doped with a dopant element,

Li x M1 a M2 b M3 c O y   Formula 1

0<x≤1.1, 2≤y≤2.02, 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, and 0<a+b+c≤1,

wherein M3 is Mn and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration increases continuously throughout the cathode active material from a center of the cathode active material to a surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M1 is Ni and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration decreases continuously from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M2 is Co and has a constant concentration from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material,

wherein the dopant element is in a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm relative to the compound of Formula 1 having the concentration gradient range, and

wherein a of Formula 1 is 0.7797 or more throughout an entire region of the cathode active material.

2. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant element is at least one selected from a group consisting of Ti, Zr, Mg, Al, V, B, Na, Ca, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ge, Sr, Ba, Nb and Ga.

3. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant element is doped in a concentration of 1000 to 3,000 ppm.

4. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the lithium-metal oxides further includes a coating layer on a surface thereof, which is made of Al, Ti, Ba, Zr, Si, B, Mg and P, and alloys or oxides thereof.

5. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the concentration of Ni is within a range from 0.7797 to 0.9 throughout the entire region of the cathode active material.

6. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the one or more lithium-metal oxides has a first particle of a rod-type shape.

7. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the dopant element is doped in a concentration of 1000 to 3,000 ppm.

8. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the lithium-metal oxides further includes a coating layer on a surface thereof, which is made of Al, Ti, Ba, Zr, Si, B, Mg and P, and alloys or oxides thereof.

9. A lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte,

wherein the cathode includes a cathode active material consisting of one or more lithium-metal oxides containing Ni, Co, and Mn,

and wherein, at least one of the lithium-metal oxides includes a compound represented by Formula 1 below which is doped with a dopant element,

Li x M1 a M2 b M3 c O y   Formula 1

0<x≤1.1, 2≤y≤2.02, 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, and 0<a+b+c≤1,

wherein M3 is Mn, and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration increases continuously throughout the cathode active material frog a center of the cathode active material to a surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M1 is Ni and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration decreases continuously from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M2 is Co and has a constant concentration from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material, and

wherein the dopant element is in a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm relative to the compound of formula I having the concentration gradient range,

wherein a capacity of 0.5 C charging at −20° C. is 65% or more of that at room temperature, and a capacity of 0.5 discharging at −20° C. is 78% or more of that at room temperature, and

wherein a of Formula 1 is 0.7797 or more throughout an entire region of the cathode active material.

10. The lithium secondary, battery according to claim 9 , wherein the dopant element is at least one selected from a group consisting of Ti, Zr, Mg, Al, V, B, Na, Ca, Cr, Cu, Zn, Ge, Sr, Ba, Nb and Ga.

11. The lithium secondary battery according to claim 9 , wherein a discharge power at −20° C. is −20% or more of that at room temperature.

12. A lithium secondary battery, comprising a cathode, an anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte, the cathode including a cathode active material, wherein the cathode active material includes a lithium-metal oxide containing Ni, Co, and Mn, represented by Formula 1 below,

Li x M1 a M2 b M3 c O y   Formula 1

0<x≤1.1, 2≤y≤2.02, 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, and 0<a+b+c≤1,

wherein M3 is Mn and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration increases continuously throughout the cathode active material from a center of the cathode active material to a surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M1 is Ni and has a concentration gradient range in which a concentration decreases continuously from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material,

wherein M2 is Co and has a constant concentration from the center of the cathode active material to the surface of the cathode active material,

wherein the lithium-metal oxide includes a dopant element in a concentration of 1,000 to 5,000 ppm relative to the compound of Formula 1 having the concentration gradient range,

wherein the concentration of Ni is 0.7 or more throughout an entire region of the cathode active material,

wherein the cathode does not include a cathode active material containing a lithium-metal oxide having which has only one or two of the Ni, Co, or Mn, and

wherein a of Formula 1 is 0.7797 or more throughout an entire region of the cathode active material.

13. The lithium secondary battery of claim 12 , wherein the concentration of Ni is within a range of from 0.7797 to 0.9 throughout the entire region, of the cathode active material.

Assignments (2)
NUNC PRO TUNC ASSIGNMENT Recorded Nov 7, 2022
From: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
To: SK ON CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 062034/0198 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 20, 2015
From: YOO, KYUNG-BIN; HWANG, DUCK-CHUL; LIM, JIN-SUB; HAN, KOOK-HYUN
To: SK INNOVATION CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 037104/0236 →