Umicore

Umicore Korea, Ltd.

HyeJeong Yang

Jens M Paulsen

TaeHyeon Yang

Song-Yi Han

JiHye Kim

Randy De Palma

Dae-Hyun Kim

Shinichi Kumakura

Kasper Lambrighs

This invention relates to a process for manufacturing lithium nickel cobalt oxide-based cathode compounds for lithium ion secondary batteries. As part of this process, nickel, cobalt, and optionally manganese-bearing precursor compounds are lithiated and sintered at a high temperature. When cooled down, a high cooling rate will benefit the throughput of the process and the economics. It has however been found that the cooling rate should not exceed 10° C./min in what has been determined to be a critical temperature domain, ranging from 700° C. to 550° C.

Method for preparing a positive electrode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries

A method for preparing a powderous positive electrode material comprising single crystal monolithic particles and having a general formula Li((Ni(NiMn)Co)A)O, wherein A is a dopant, −0.03≤a≤0.06, 0.05≤x≤0.35, 0.10≤z≤0.95, x+y+z=1 and k≤0.05 is described. The method comprises providing a mixture comprising a Ni- and Co- bearing precursor and a Li bearing precursor, subjecting the mixture to a multiple step sintering process whereby in the final sintering step a sintered lithiated intermediate material is obtained comprising agglomerated primary particles having a primary particle size distribution with a D50 between 2.0 and 8.0 μm, subjecting the lithiated intermediate material to a wet ball milling step to deagglomerate the agglomerated primary particles and obtain a slurry comprising deagglomerated primary particles, separating the deagglomerated primary particles from the slurry, and heat treating the deagglomerated primary particles at a temperature between 300° C. and at least 20° C. below the temperature in the final sintering step.

Methods for preparing positive electrode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries

A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery comprises a lithium transition metal-based oxide powder, the powder comprising single crystal monolithic particles comprising Ni and Co and having a general formula Li(NiMnCoZrA)O, wherein A is a dopant, &#x2212;0.025&#x2264;a&#x3c;0.005, 0.60&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.95, y&#x2264;0.20, 0.05&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.20, k&#x2264;0.20, 0&#x2264;q&#x2264;0.10, and x+y+z+k+q=1. The particles have a cobalt concentration gradient wherein the particle surface has a higher Co content than the particle center.

Positive electrode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries

A method for preparing a N(M)C-based positive electrode materials according to the present invention comprises the following steps: &#x2014;Precipitation of a metal (at least Ni&#x2014; and Co&#x2014;, preferably comprising Mn&#x2014;) bearing precursor (MBP), &#x2014;Fractionation of the MBP in a first (A) fraction and at least one second (B) fraction, &#x2014;Lithiation of each of the first and second fraction, wherein the A fraction is converted into a first polycrystalline lithium transition metal oxide-based powder and the B fraction(s) is(are) converted into a second lithium transition metal oxide-based powder and, and &#x2014;Mixing the first and second monolithic lithium transition metal oxide-based powder to obtain the N(M)C-based positive electrode material.

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Cheonan-si, South Korea

HyeJeong Yang