Umicore

Umicore Korea, Ltd.

HeonPyo Hong

Jens M Paulsen

JiHye Kim

JinDoo Oh

Randy De Palma

Kyubo Kim

Liang Zhu

Daniël Nelis

Eric Robert

Jin Hu

Hyo Sun Ahn

Thomas Lau

DaeHyun Kim

A carbonate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, M comprising 20 to 90 mol % Ni, 10 to 70 mol % Mn and 10 to 40 mol % Co, the precursor further comprising a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4&#x3c;Na/S&#x3c;2. Thes lithium metal (M)-oxide powder has a particle size distribution with 10 &#x3bc;m&#x2264;D50&#x2264;20 &#x3bc;m, a specific surface with 0.9&#x2264;BET&#x2264;5, the BET being expressed in g/cm, the powder further comprises a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sum (2*Na)+Sof the sodium (Na) and sulfur (S) content expressed in wt % is more than 0.4 wt % and less than 1.6 wt %, and wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4&#x3c;Na/S&#x3c;2.

Impurity containing cathode material with preferred morphology and method to prepare from impurity containing metal carbonate

A method for producing a M-carbonate precursor of a Li-M oxide cathode material in a continuous reactor, wherein M=NixMnyCozAn, A being a dopant, with x&#x3e;0, y&#x3e;0, 0&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.35, 0&#x2264;n&#x2264;0.02 and x+y+z+n=1, the method comprising the steps of: &#x2014;providing a feed solution comprising Ni-, Mn-, Co- and A-ions, and having a molar metal content M&#x2033; feed, &#x2014;providing an ionic solution comprising either one or both of a carbonate and a bicarbonate solution, the ionic solution further comprising either one or both of Na- and K-ions, &#x2014;providing a slurry comprising seeds comprising M'-ions and having a molar metal content M&#x2032; seeds, wherein M&#x2032;=Nix&#x2032;Mny&#x2032;Coz&#x2032;A&#x2032;n&#x2032;, A&#x2032; being a dopant, with 0&#x2264;x&#x2032;&#x2264;1, 0&#x2264;y&#x2032;&#x2264;1, 0&#x2264;z&#x2032;&#x2264;1, 0&#x2264;n&#x2032;&#x2264;1 and x&#x2032;+y&#x2032;+z&#x2032;+n&#x2032;=1, and wherein the molar ratio M&#x2032; seeds/M&#x2033; feed is between 0.001 and 0.1, &#x2014;mixing the feed solution, the ionic solution and the slurry in the reactor, thereby obtaining a reactive liquid mixture, &#x2014;precipitating a carbonate onto the seeds in the reactive liquid mixture, thereby obtaining a reacted liquid mixture and the M-carbonate precursor, and &#x2014;separating the M-carbonate precursor from the reacted liquid mixture.

Carbonate precursors for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode material and the method of making same

A lithium metal oxide powder for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, consisting of Li metal oxide core particles having a general formula Li(NiMnCoZrM')OAr; wherein AlOis attached to the surface of the core particles; wherein 0&#x2264;d&#x2264;0.08, 0.2&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.9, 0&#x3c;y&#x2264;0.7, 0&#x3c;z&#x2264;0.4, 0&#x2264;m&#x2264;0.02, 0&#x3c;k&#x2264;0.05, e&#x3c;0.02, 0&#x2264;f&#x2264;0.02 and x+y+z+k+m=1; M&#x2032; consisting of either one or more elements from the group Al, Mg, Ti, Cr, V, Fe and Ga; A consisting of either one or more elements from the group F, P, C, CI, S, Si, Ba, Y, Ca, B, Sn, Sb, Na and Zn; and wherein the AlOcontent in the powder is between 0.05 and 1 wt %.

Doped and coated lithium transition metal oxide cathode materials for batteries in automotive applications

A carbonate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, M comprising 20 to 90 mol % Ni, 10 to 70 mol % Mn and 10 to 40 mol % Co, the precursor further comprising a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4&#x3c;Na/S&#x3c;2. The lithium metal (M)-oxide powder has a particle size distribution with 10 &#x3bc;m&#x2264;D50&#x2264;20 &#x3bc;m, a specific surface with 0.9&#x2264;BET&#x2264;5, the BET being expressed in g/cm2, the powder further comprises a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sum (2*Nawt)+Swt of the sodium (Nawt) and sulfur (S wt) content expressed in wt % is more than 0.4 wt % and less than 1.6 wt %, and wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4&#x3c;Na/S&#x3c;2.

The invention discloses an olivine cathode material comprising Li, M and PO 4, having a non-stoichiometric composition wherein: &#x2014;the phosphor stoichiometry PO 4:[(Li+M)/2] is between 0.940 and 1.020, &#x2014;the lithium to metal ratio Li:M is between 1.040 and 1.150, and wherein M=Fe&#x2212;x&#x2212;z' Mn x D z&#x2032;, with 0.10&#x3c;x&#x3c;0.90, z&#x2032;&#x3e;0, D being a dopant comprising either one or both of Cr and Mg. In one embodiment PO 4:[(Li+M)/2] is between 0.960 and 1.000, resulting in an even better performing material. Performance is improved even more in another embodiment wherein PO 4:[(Li+M)/2] is less than 1.000. Improvements in performance are also obtained for either an embodiment wherein the lithium to metal ratio Li:M is between 1.070 and 1.120; or an embodiment wherein the manganese to iron ratio Mn/(Mn+Fe) is between 0.25 and 0.75; or for another embodiment wherein z&#x2032;&#x3c;0.05.

Olivine composition with improved cell performance

Aluminum dry-coated and heat treated cathode material precursors. A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing an aluminum coatedlithium transition metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries includes a transition metal (M)-oxide core and a non-amorphous aluminum oxide coating layercovering the core. By providing a heat treatment process for mixed metal precursors that may be combined with an aluminum dry-coating process, novel aluminum containing precursors that may be used to form high quality nickel based cathode materials are obtained. The aluminum dry-coated and heat treated precursors include particles have, compared to prior art precursors, relatively low impurity levels of carbonate and/or sulfide, and can be produced at lower cost.

Aluminum dry-coated and heat treated cathode material precursors

A lithium transition metal oxide powder for use in a rechargeable battery is disclosed, where the surface of the primary particles of said powder is coated with a first inner and a second outer layer, the second outer layer comprising a fluorine-containing polymer, and the first inner layer consisting of a reaction product of the fluorine-containing polymer and the primary particle surface. An example of this reaction product is LiF, where the lithium originates from the primary particles surface. Also as an example, the fluorine-containing polymer is either one of PVDF, PVDF-HFP or PTFE.

Double-shell core lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides

A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing an aluminum doped lithium transition metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries includes a transition metal (M)-hydroxide or (M)-oxyhydroxide core and a non-amorphous aluminum oxide coating layer covering the core. By providing an aluminum dry-coating process where the particulate precursor core compound is mixed with alumina powder in one or more procedures, higher doping levels of aluminum compared to the known prior art may be achieved. The crystal structure of the alumina is maintained during the coating procedures and the core of each mixed transition metal precursor particle is surrounded by a coating layer containing crystalline alumina nano particles. The aluminum concentration in the particulate precursor decreases as the size of the core increases.

Alumina dry-coated cathode material precursors

A lithium transition metal oxide powder for use in a rechargeable battery is disclosed, where the surface of the primary particles of said powder is coated with a LiF layer, where this layer consists of a reaction product of a fluorine-containing polymer and the primary particle surface. The lithium of the LiF originates from the primary particles surface. Examples of the fluorine-containing polymer are either one of PVDF, PVDF-HFP or PTFE. Examples of the lithium transition metal oxide are either one of &#x2014;LiCoMeO, wherein M is either one of both of Mg and Ti, with e&#x3c;0.02 and d+e=1; &#x2014;Li+M'OMSwith &#x2212;0.03&#x3c;a&#x3c;0.06, b&#x3c;0.02, M&#x2032; being a transition metal compound, consisting of at least 95% of either one or more elements of the group Ni, Mn, Co and Ti; Mconsisting of either one or more elements of the group Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce and Zr, with 0&#x2266;k&#x2266;0.1 in wt %; and 0&#x3c;m&#x3c;0.6, m being expressed in mol %; and &#x2014;LiNiCOM&#x2033;OA, with 0.9&#x3c;a&#x2032;&#x3c;1.1, 0.5&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.9, 0&#x3c;y&#x2266;0.4, 0&#x3c;z&#x2266;0.35, e&#x3c;0.02, 0&#x2266;f&#x2266;0.05 and 0.9&#x3c;(x+y+z+f)&#x3c;1.1; M&#x2033; consisting of either one or more elements from the group Al, Mg, and Ti; A consisting of either one or both of S and C.

Core-shell lithium transition metal oxides

A powderous lithium transition metal oxide having a layered crystal structure LiMOM'Swith &#x2212;0.03&#x3c;a&#x3c;0.06, b&#x2245;0, 0&#x2266;m&#x2266;0.6, m being expressed in mol %, M being a transition metal compound, consisting of at least 95% of either one or more elements of the group Ni, Mn, Co and Ti; M&#x2032; being present on the surface of the powderous oxide, and consisting of either one or more elements of the group Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce and Zr, wherein: either k=0 and M=NiMnCO, with 0&#x3c;c&#x3c;1, and 0&#x3c;d&#x3c;1; or 0.015&#x3c;k&#x3c;0.15, k being expressed in wt % of said lithium transition metal oxide; characterized in that for said powderous oxide, the X-ray diffraction peak at 44.5&#xb1;0.3 degree, having as index 104, measured with K alpha radiation, has a FWHM value of &#x2266;0.1 degree. By optimizing the sintering temperature of the metal oxide the FWHM value can be minimized.

Growing community of inventors

BaekSeokDong, South Korea

HeonPyo Hong