Cathode compositions for lithium ion batteries

1. A cathode composition for a lithium ion battery having the formula Li x [M 1 (1−b) Mn b ]O 1.5+c where 0<x<1, 0<b<1 and 0<c<0.5 and M 1 represents one or more metal elements, said composition characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

2. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−2x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−x)/3 ]O 1.5+x where 0<y<1, 0<x<0.5 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 2 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

3. The cathode composition of claim 2 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

4. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y+a [Li (1−2x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−x)/3 ]O 1.5+x+y/2 where 0<a<(1−y), 0<y<(1−2x) and 0<x<0.5 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 2 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

5. The cathode composition of claim 4 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

6. A cathode composition for a lithium ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−2x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−x)/3 ]O 1.5+x+y/2 where 0<y<(1−2x) and 0<x<0.5 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 2 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

7. The cathode composition of claim 6 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

8. A cathode composition according to any one of claims 2 - 7 wherein M 2 is nickel.

9. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−2x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−x)/3 ]O 1.5+x/2 where 0<y<1 and 0<x<1 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

10. The cathode composition of claim 9 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

11. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y+a [Li (1−x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−2x)/3 ]O 1.5+x/2+y/2 where 0<a<(1−y), 0<y<(1−x) and 0<x<1 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

12. The cathode composition of claim 11 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

13. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−2x)/3 ]O 1.5+x/2+y2 where 0<y<(1−x) and 0<x<1 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 4 when in a fully charged state.

14. The cathode composition of claim 13 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

15. A cathode composition according to any one of claims 9 - 14 wherein M 2 is selected from the group consisting of Co and Fe and combinations thereof.

16. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−2x)/3 ]O 1.5+1.5x where 0<y<1 and 0<x<0.33 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 6 when in a fully charged state.

17. The cathode composition of claim 16 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

18. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y+a [Li (1−x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−2x)/3] O 1.5+1.5x−y/2 where 0<a<(1−y), 0<y<(1−3x) and 0<x<0.33 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 6 when in a fully charged state.

19. The cathode composition of claim 18 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

20. A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li y [Li (1−x)/3 M 2 x Mn (2−2x)/3 ]O 1.5+1.5x+y/2 where 0<y<(1−3x) and 0<x<0.33 and M 2 represents one or more metal elements, with the proviso that the weighted average oxidation state of all M 2 is 3 when in a fully uncharged state and 6when in a fully charged state.

21. The cathode composition of claim 20 wherein said composition is characterized as being in the form of a single phase having an O3 crystal structure that does not undergo a phase transformation to a spinel crystal structure when incorporated in a lithium-ion battery and cycled for 100 full charge-discharge cycles at 30 C and a final capacity of 130 mAh/g using a discharge current of 30 mA/g.

22. A cathode composition according to any one of claims 16 - 21 wherein M 2 is chromium.

23. A lithium-ion battery comprising the cathode composition of any of claims 1 , 2 , 4 , 6 , 9 , 11 , 13 , 16 , 18 , and 20 .