IP Library Granted Patent US 10,164,256
Granted Patent B2
US 10,164,256 · App. 15/458,618 · Granted Dec 25, 2018

Cathode active materials for lithium-ion batteries

Inventors: Huiming Wu (San Jose, CA); Hongli Dai (Los Altos, CA); Dapeng Wang (Cupertino, CA); Christopher S. Johnson (Naperville, IL); John David Carter (Bolingbrook, IL); Yanjie Cui (Arlington Heights, IL); Arturo Gutierrez (Naperville, IL); Hakim H. Iddir (Hoffman Estates, IL); Arthur Jeremy Kropf (Westmont, IL); Yan Li (Westmont, IL); Victor A. Maroni (Naperville, IL); Anh D. Vu (Naperville, IL); Xiaoping Wang (Naperville, IL); Zhenzhen Yang (Westmont, IL)
Assignee: Apple Inc.
H01M4/525H01B1/08H01M4/0471H01M4/131H01M4/366H01M4/485H01M4/502H01M4/505H01M4/523H01M4/582H01M4/5825H01M4/661H01M10/0525H01M2004/021H01M2004/028H01M2220/30
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,164,256
App. No.
15/458,618
Granted
Dec 25, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

Compounds, powders, and cathode active materials that can be used in lithium ion batteries are described herein. Methods of making such compounds, powders, and cathode active materials are described.

Claims (61)

1. A powder comprising particles, the particles comprising a compound represented by Formula (VII):

Li α Co 1−x−y M y Mn x O δ   (VII)

wherein

M is at least one element selected from B, Na, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Ru, and Mo,

0.95≤α≤1.30,

0<x≤0.30,

0<y≤0.10,

1.98≤δ≤2.04, and

the compound is a single-phase compound with an R 3 m crystal structure;

wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 5 μm and less than or equal to 30 μm; and

wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, each secondary particle comprising a plurality of primary particles sintered together.

2. The powder of claim 1 , wherein

0.98≤α≤1.16,

0<x≤0.16, and

0<y≤0.05.

3. The powder of claim 1 , wherein

0.96≤α≤1.04, and

0<x≤0.10.

4. The powder of claim 1 , wherein

0.98≤α≤1.01,

0.001≤x≤0.04, and

0<y≤0.03.

5. The powder of claim 1 , wherein 0.98≤α≤1.01, 0.001≤x≤0.03, and 0<y≤0.03.

6. The powder of claim 1 , wherein α>1+x.

7. The powder of claim 1 , wherein α<1+x.

8. The powder of claim 1 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 20 μm.

9. The powder of claim 1 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles, wherein at least 30% of a mean secondary particle is formed of a single primary particle.

10. A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 1 .

11. A cathode comprising the cathode active material of claim 10 .

12. A battery cell, comprising:

an anode comprising an anode current collector,

the cathode according to claim 11 ; and

a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode.

13. The battery cell of claim 12 , having a first-cycle discharge energy greater than or equal to 750 Wh/kg.

14. The battery cell of claim 12 , wherein a first-cycle energy capacity is at least 65% after 52 discharge cycles.

15. The powder of claim 1 , wherein M is Al.

16. The powder of claim 15 , wherein

0.98≤α≤1.16,

0<x≤0.16, and

0<y≤0.05.

17. The powder of claim 15 , wherein

0.96≤α≤1.04, and

0<x≤0.10.

18. The powder of claim 15 , wherein

0.98≤α≤1.01,

0.001≤x≤0.04, and

0<y≤0.03.

19. The powder of claim 15 , wherein 0.98≤α≤1.01, 0.001≤x≤0.03, and 0<y≤0.03.

20. The powder of claim 15 , wherein α>1+x.

21. The powder of claim 15 , wherein α<1+x.

22. The powder of claim 15 , wherein a mean diameter of the particles is at least 20 μm.

23. The powder of claim 15 , wherein the particles comprise secondary particles,

wherein at least 30% of a mean secondary particle is formed of a single primary particle.

24. A cathode active material comprising the powder of claim 15 .

25. A cathode comprising the cathode active material of claim 24 .

26. A battery cell, comprising:

an anode comprising an anode current collector,

the cathode according to claim 25 ; and

a separator disposed between the anode and the cathode.

27. The battery cell of claim 26 , having a first-cycle discharge energy greater than or equal to 750 Wh/kg.

28. The battery cell of claim 26 , wherein a first-cycle energy capacity is at least 65% after 52 discharge cycles.

Assignments (6)
CONFIRMATORY LICENSE Recorded Jun 24, 2022
From: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
To: UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Reel/Frame 060300/0601 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: WU, HUIMING
To: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
Reel/Frame 047339/0191 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 29, 2018
From: WU, HUIMING
To: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
Reel/Frame 047339/0269 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: WU, HUIMING; DAI, HONGLI; WANG, DAPENG
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 044902/0234 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: VU, ANH D.; LI, YAN; CARTER, JOHN DAVID; JOHNSON, CHRISTOPHER S.; WANG, XIAOPING; IDDIR, HAKIM H.; KROPF, ARTHUR JEREMY; MARONI, VICTOR A.; YANG, ZHENZHEN; GUTIERREZ, ARTURO; CUI, YANJIE
To: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
Reel/Frame 044902/0360 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 12, 2018
From: UCHICAGO ARGONNE, LLC
To: APPLE INC.
Reel/Frame 044902/0432 →
Continuity (4)
Provisional Application 62307956 · Mar 14, 2016
Provisional Application 62307964 · Mar 14, 2016
Related Publication 20170263929A1 · Sep 14, 2017
Related Publication 20180114984A9 · Apr 26, 2018
Cited By (3)
US 12,206,097 US 12,206,100 US 12,249,707