STABILIZED LITHIUM COBALT OXIDE SPINEL ELECTRODES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES
Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. These stabilized lithiated spinel materials are attractive as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component ‘layered-spinel’ system or a multi-component ‘layered-spinel’ system, as defined by the phase diagram and compositional space of each system.
1 . A cation-stabilized lithium cobalt oxide electrode material for a lithium electrochemical cell comprising a material of formula: Li 2 (Co 1-x Ni x ) 2-2z M′ 2z O 4 , having a lithiated spinel structure with a rock salt stoichiometry, wherein M′ comprises one or more metal cations other than cobalt and nickel, 0≤x≤0.5 and 0≤z≤0.5.
2 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein M′ comprises a divalent, trivalent or tetravalent cation.
3 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein M′ is selected from one or more cation of a metal selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Ti, Ga, and Zr.
4 . The electrode material of claim 3 , wherein M′ comprises Al.
5 . The electrode material of claim 3 , wherein M′ comprises Mg.
6 . The electrode material of claim 3 , wherein M′ comprises Ti.
7 . The electrode material of claim 3 , wherein M′ comprises Zr.
8 . The electrode material of claim 3 , wherein M′ comprises Ga.
9 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein 0<z≤0.4.
10 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein 0<z≤0.2.
11 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein the Li, Co and M′ cations are partially disordered over octahedral and tetrahedral sites of layered and spinel component structures.
12 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein the Li, Co and M′ cations thereof are distributed in a lithiated spinel configuration, a layered configuration, or an integrated layered-spinel configuration.
13 . The electrode material of claim 1 , wherein the material has a structure that is either cation or anion deficient, or both.
14 . The electrode material of claim 1 , which is combined with one or more layered or spinel components.
15 . The electrode material of claim 1 , which is structurally integrated with one or more layered or spinel components in a composite structure.
16 . The electrode material of claim 1 , which is structurally integrated with a two-component layered-layered material of formula: Li 2 MnO 3 ·(1-x)LiMO 2 , wherein M comprises one or more metal cations; and 0<x<1.
17 . The electrode material of claim 16 , wherein M comprises one or more cations selected of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, and Co.
18 . The electrode material of claim 17 , wherein the Li, Co, Ni, Mn, M and M′ cations are partially disordered over octahedral and tetrahedral sites of layered and spinel component structures.
19 . The electrode material of claim 18 , wherein the material has a structure that is either cation or anion deficient, or both.
20 . An electrode for a lithium ion electrochemical cell comprising the electrode material of claim 1 supported on a metallic current collector.
21 . An electrode for a lithium ion electrochemical cell comprising electrochemically active metal oxide particles supported on a metallic current collector, wherein a surface of at least a portion of said particles comprises the electrode material of claim 1 .
22 . The electrode of claim 21 , wherein the electrochemically active metal oxide is selected from one or more materials having a layered, spinel or olivine structure.
23 . An electrochemical cell comprising an anode, a cathode, and a lithium-containing electrolyte contacting the anode and cathode, wherein one or more of the anode and the cathode comprises the electrode material of claim 1 .
24 . A battery comprising a plurality of electrochemical cells of claim 23 , electrically connected in series, in parallel, or in both series and parallel.