Electrode material including lithium transition metal oxide, lithium iron phosphate, further iron-phosphorous compound. and carbon, and lithium battery including the same

1. An electrode material, comprising:

(a) a component comprising a compound of formula (I):

Li (1+x) [Ni a CO b Mn c M 1 d ] (1-x) O 2   (I),

wherein, in formula (I):

x is in the range of from 0.01 to 0.05,

a is in the range of from 0.3 to 0.6,

b is in the range of from zero to 0.35,

c is in the range of from 0.2 to 0.6,

d is in the range of from zero to 0.05,

a+b+c+d=1, and

M 1 is at least one metal selected from the group consisting of Ca, Zn, Fe, Ti, Ba, and Al;

(b) a component comprising:

a compound of formula (II):

LiFe (1-y) M 2 y PO 4   (II),

wherein, in formula (II):

y is in the range of from zero to 0.8

M 2 is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Co, Mn, Ni, V, Mg, Nd, Zn and Y, and

a further iron-phosphorus compound, in form of a solid solution in the compound of formula (II) or in domains, wherein said further iron-phosphorus compound is at least one compound selected from the group consisting of Fe 3 (PO 4 ) 2 and Fe 2 P 2 O 7 ; and

(c) carbon in electrically conductive modification,

wherein the compound of formula (II) is obtained by reacting a molar excess of Fe with respect to Li or, if M 2 is present, a molar excess of Fe and M 2 with respect to Li,

wherein an average particle diameter, D 50 , of secondary particles of the component (a) is in a range from 6 μm to 16 μm, and

wherein the component (b) is in the form of agglomerates of primary particles, said agglomerates having an average diameter, D 50 , in a range from 1-10 μm.

2. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein, in formula (I):

a is in the range of from 0.32 to 0.50,

b is in the range of from 0.20 to 0.33,

c is in the range of from 0.30 to 0.40, and

d is zero.

3. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the component (a) is a gradient material.

4. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the component (a) has a BET surface area in the range of from 0.2 m 2 /g to 10 m 2 /g.

5. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the component (b) has a BET surface area in the range of from 5 m 2 /g to 35 m 2 /g.

6. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the component (b) has a BET surface area in the range of from 5 m 2 /g to 15 m 2 /g.

7. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein, in formula (II), y is not zero and M 2 is Ti, Co, or Mn.

8. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the weight ratio of the component (a) to the component (b) is in the range of from 30:70 to 97.5:2.5.

9. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the average particle diameter, D 50 , of secondary particles of the component (a) is from 7 μm to 9 μm, and wherein the average diameter, D 50 , of the agglomerates of the primary particles of component (b) is from 2 μm to 5 μm.

10. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the further iron-phosphorus compound is in the form of a solid solution in the compound of formula (II).

11. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the further iron-phosphorus compound is distributed in grain boundaries.

12. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the further iron-phosphorus compound is in domains having an average diameter of 0.1-1 μm.

13. The electrode material according to claim 1 , wherein the amount of carbon (c) is in the range of 1 to 8% by weight, relative to the component (b).

14. A cathode, comprising:

the electrode material according to claim 1 ; and

a binder (d).

15. A battery, comprising:

(A) the cathode of claim 14 ; (B) an anode; and

(C) an electrolyte.

16. A method for using a battery according to claim 15 , the method comprising:

incorporating said battery into an automobile or other mobile appliance.