Cathode active materials having improved particle morphologies
Mixed-metal oxides and lithiated mixed-metal oxides are disclosed that involve compounds according to, respectively, Ni x Mn y Co z Me α O β and Li 1+γ Ni x Mn y Co z Me α O β . In these compounds, Me is selected from B, Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ga, Ge, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Ag, In, and combinations thereof; 0≤x≤1; 0≤y≤1; 0≤z<1; x+y+z>0; 0≤α≤0.5; and x+y+α>0. For the mixed-metal oxides, 1≤β≤5. For the lithiated mixed-metal oxides, −0.1≤γ≤1.0 and 1.9≤β≤3. The mixed-metal oxides and the lithiated mixed-metal oxides include particles having an average density greater than or equal to 90% of an ideal crystalline density.
1. Particles comprising a compound Formula (IVa) represented by
Co 1-l M 5 l Al m O n (IVa)
wherein
M 5 is B, Na, Mn, Ni, Mg, Ti, Ca, V, Cr, Fe, Cu, Zn, Al, Sc, Y, Ga, Zr, Mo, Ru, and any combination thereof,
0<1<0.50;
0<m≤0.05; and
0.9≤n≤2.6,
wherein the particles have an average density greater than or equal to 90% of an ideal crystalline density of the particles.
2. The particles of claim 1 , wherein 0.01≤m≤0.03.
3. The particles of claim 1 , wherein 0.001≤m≤0.005.
4. The particles of claim 1 , wherein 0.002≤m≤0.004.
5. The particles of claim 1 , wherein 0.02≤m≤0.03.
6. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is at least 500 ppm.
7. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is at least 750 ppm.
8. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is at least 900 ppm.
9. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is less than or equal to 2000 ppm.
10. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is less than or equal to 1500 ppm.
11. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is less than or equal to 1250 ppm.
12. The particles of claim 1 , wherein Al is approximately 1000 ppm.
13. The particles of claim 1 , wherein a first portion of the particles has a mean particle size between 1 and 50 μm.
14. The particles of claim 13 , wherein the first portion of the particles has a mean particle size of between 10 and 20 μm.
15. The particles claim 14 , wherein a second portion of particles has a mean particle size of between 1 and 5 μm.
16. The particles of claim 2 , wherein a first portion of the particles has a mean particle size between 10 and 20 μm, and a second portion of the particles has a mean particle size of between 1 and 5 μm.
17. A cathode comprising a cathode current collector and a cathode active material disposed over the cathode current collector, the cathode active material comprising the particles of claim 1 .
18. A battery cell, comprising:
an anode comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material disposed over the anode current collector; and
the cathode of claim 17 .
19. A portable electronic device comprising:
a set of components powered by the battery cell of claim 18 .