ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR ELECTRODE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURING THEREOF
An active material for an electrode and its methods of manufacture are provided. The active material includes a lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide (LNCO) represented by the formula Li 2 Ni x Cu 1-x O 2 , wherein x is greater than 0 and less than 1.
1 . An active material for an electrode, the active material comprising a lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide (LNCO) represented by the formula Li 2 Ni x Cu 1-x O 2 , wherein x is greater than 0 and less than 1.
2 . The active material of claim 1 , wherein x is about 0.2 to about 0.8.
3 . The active material of claim 1 , wherein x is 0.3, 0.5 or 0.7.
4 . The active material of claim 1 , further comprising a lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum complex oxide (NCA).
5 . An electrode film for a battery, the electrode film comprising:
the active material of claim 1 ;
a binder; and
a carbon material.
6 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the active material comprises about 98% by weight of the electrode film.
7 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the binder comprises about 1% by weight of the electrode film.
8 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the binder comprises polyvinlylidene fluoride (PVDF).
9 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the carbon material comprises about 1% by weight of the electrode film.
10 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the carbon material is selected from the group consisting of carbon black, acetylene black, and a conductive additive, or combinations thereof.
11 . The electrode film of claim 5 , wherein the LNCO comprises at least about 0.5% by weight of the electrode film.
12 . The electrode of claim 5 , wherein the active material further comprises a lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum complex oxide (NCA).
13 . The electrode film of claim 12 , wherein the NCA comprises at least about 96% by weight of the electrode film.
14 . The electrode film of claim 12 , wherein the ratio of NCA:LNCO by weight of the electrode film is about 48:1-9:1.
15 . An electrode for a battery, the electrode comprising:
the electrode film of claim 5 ; and
a current collector.
16 . A battery comprising the electrode of claim 15 .
17 . The battery of claim 16 , wherein the electrode is a cathode electrode.
18 . A method of manufacturing an active material for an electrode, the method comprising:
forming a precursor comprising lithium hydroxide (LiOH), copper(II) oxide (CuO) and nickel(II) oxide (NiO);
heating the precursor to generate a lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide (LNCO) represented by the formula Li 2 Ni x Cu 1-x O 2 , wherein x is greater than 0 and less than 1; and
forming an active material comprising the LNCO.
19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising grinding the precursor after the precursor is formed.
20 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising milling the lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide.
21 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising mixing the lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide with a lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum complex oxide (NCA).
22 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the precursor is heated in an inert atmosphere.
23 . The method of claim 18 , wherein the precursor is heated at a temperature of about 650° C. to about 750° C.
24 . The method of claim 23 , wherein the precursor is heated at a temperature of about 700° C.
25 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising surface coating the active material with alumina (Al 2 O 3 ).
26 . A method of manufacturing an active material for an electrode, the method comprising:
forming a first precursor comprising a metal oxalate hydrate represented by the formula MC 2 O 4 .2H 2 O, wherein M is nickel and copper;
heating the first precursor to form a metal oxide;
heating the metal oxide with a lithium precursor to generate a lithium-nickel-copper complex oxide (LNCO) represented by the formula Li 2 Ni x Cu 1-x O 2 , wherein x is greater than 0 and less than 1; and
forming an active material comprising the LNCO.
27 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the first precursor is formed by reacting Na 2 C 2 O 4 with MSO 4.
28 . The method of claim 26 , wherein the lithium precursor is lithium hydroxide (LiOH).
29 . The method of claim 26 , wherein heating the first precursor is performed at about 400° C. to about 500° C.
30 . The method of claim 26 , wherein heating the first precursor is performed in an atmosphere comprising oxygen.
31 . The method of claim 26 , wherein heating the metal oxide with the lithium precursor is performed at about 650° C. to about 750° C.
32 . The method of claim 26 , wherein heating the metal oxide with the lithium precursor is performed in an inert atmosphere.