Sodium metal oxide material for secondary batteries and method of preparation

1. A method of preparing a sodium metal oxide material comprising Na x M y Co z O 2-δ , where M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, 0.7≤x≤1.3, 0.9≤y≤1.1, 0≤z<0.15, 0≤δ<0.2 and wherein the average length of primary particles of said sodium metal oxide material is between 2 and 10 μm, where said sodium metal oxide material has a tap density of between 1.5 and 2.2 g/cm 3 , said method comprising the steps of:

a) mixing precursor materials comprising sodium salt and a salt of at least one of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, to a mixed precursor, wherein the mixed precursor comprises carbonate;

b) placing the mixed precursor in an oven and heating the oven to a temperature of up to a temperature of between 800 and 1000° C. to provide the sodium metal oxide material; and

c) cooling the sodium metal oxide material to room temperature in an atmosphere with less than 100 ppm CO 2 ;

wherein step b) comprises the sub-steps of:

b1) heating the oven to a first temperature T1 between 900 and 1000° C.;

b2) maintaining the temperature of the oven at the first temperature T1 until a specific phase distribution between P2 and O3 phases is achieved, wherein each of the P2 and O3 phases are in a percentage of at least 20 wt %;

b3) cooling the oven to a second temperature T2, where T2 is between 800 and 950° C. and wherein T2 is 50-150° C. lower than T1; and

b4) maintaining the temperature of the oven at the second temperature T2 until the sodium metal oxide material is substantially carbonate free.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the mixing of precursor materials of step a) is in a dispersion.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises step a2) of drying the mixed precursor to a mixed precursor having a moisture content between 2 and 15 wt %.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the atmosphere in the oven during step a) and/or during step b) is atmospheric air.

5. A sodium metal oxide material for an electrode of a secondary battery prepared by the process of claim 1 , said sodium metal oxide material being a two phase material comprising the P2 and O3 phases in a percentage of at least 20 wt % each,

where said sodium metal oxide material has a tap density of between 1.5 and 2.2 g/cm 3 ,

said sodium metal oxide material comprising: Na x M y Co z O 2-δ , where M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, and where 0.7≤x≤1.3, 0.9≤y≤1.1, 0≤z<0.15, 0≤δ<0.2,

wherein the average length of primary particles of said sodium metal oxide material is between 2 and 10 μm.

6. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb.

7. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn.

8. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein M comprises Ni and at least one further metal chosen from the group of: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg.

9. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein M comprises Ni and Mn.

10. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein M comprises Ni, Mn, Mg and Ti.

11. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein z=0.

12. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein the primary particles have a length and a thickness, where the thickness is smaller than the length, and where the average thickness of primary particles is between 1.0 and 4.0 μm.

13. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein the sodium metal oxide material comprises 20-40 wt % P2 phase and 60-80 wt % O3 phase.

14. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein the tap density of said sodium metal oxide material is between 1.7 and 2.0 g/cm 3 .

15. The sodium metal oxide material according to claim 5 , wherein the BET area is between 0.3 and 1 m 2 /g.

16. A sodium metal oxide material for an electrode of a secondary battery, said sodium metal oxide material being a two phase material comprising P2 and O3 phases in a percentage of at least 20 wt % each,

where said sodium metal oxide material has a tap density of between 1.5 and 2.2 g/cm 3 ,

said sodium metal oxide material comprising: Na x M y Co z O 2-δ , where M is one or more of the following elements: Mn, Cu, Ti, Fe, Mg, Ni, V, Zn, Al, Li, Sn, Si, Ga, Ge, Sb, W, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, and where 0.7≤x≤1.3, 0.9≤y≤1.1, 0≤z<0.15, 0≤δ<0.2,

wherein the average length of primary particles of said sodium metal oxide material is between 2 and 10 μm.