Arthur D. Little, Inc.

Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation

Kureha Chemical Industry Company, Limited

Other

Mitsubhish Chemical Corporation

Jie Shi

Denis G Fauteux

Arthur A Massucco

Martin F Van Buren

Per Onnerud

Aisaku Nagai

Christina M Lampe-Onnerud

Tomoyoshi Koizumi

Ronnie D Wilkins

Kenji Okahara

Mehmet Rona

Eitaro Takahashi

Wlodek T Krawiec

Richard Gary

Denis G Fanteux

Dmitri Novikov

Wlodek Krawiec

Richard Chamberlain

Kazuko Otani

Sharon Dalton

A composition suitable for use as a cathode material of a lithium battery includes a core material having an empirical formula LiM'NiM&#x2033;O. 'x' is equal to or greater than about 0.1 and equal to or less than about 1.3. 'y' is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.5. &#x201c;z&#x201d; is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2. M&#x2032; is at least one member of the group consisting of sodium, potassium, nickel, calcium, magnesium and strontium. M&#x2033; is at least one member of the group consisting of cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, vanadium, titanium, magnesium, silicon, boron, aluminum and gallium. A coating on the core has a greater ratio of cobalt to nickel than the core. The coating and, optionally, the core can be a material having an empirical formula LiANiCoBO. &#x201c;x1&#x201d; is greater than about 0.1 a equal to or less than about 1.3. &#x201c;x2,&#x201d; &#x201c;y1&#x201d; and &#x201c;z1&#x201d; each is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2. &#x201c;a&#x201d; is greater than 1.5 and less than about 2.1. &#x201c;A&#x201d; is at least one element selected from the group consisting of barium, magnesium, calcium and strontium. &#x201c;B&#x201d; is at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zirconium.

Gradient cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries

A crystal which can be employed as the active material of a lithium-based battery has an empirical formula of LiANiCoBO, wherein 'x1' is greater than about 0.1 and equal to or less than about 1.3, 'x2,' &#x201c;y&#x201d; and &#x201c;z&#x201d; each is greater than about 0.0 and equal to or less than about 0.2, &#x201c;a&#x201d; is greater than about 1.5 and less than about 2.1, &#x201c;A&#x201d; is at least one element selected from the group consisting of barium, magnesium, calcium and strontium and &#x201c;B&#x201d; is at least one element selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zirconium. A method includes combining lithium, nickel, cobalt and at least one element &#x201c;A&#x201d; selected from the group consisting of barium, magnesium, calcium and strontium, has at least one element &#x201c;B&#x201d; selected from the group consisting of boron, aluminum, gallium, manganese, titanium, vanadium and zirconium, in the presence of oxygen, wherein the combined components have the relative ratio of Li:A:Ni:Co:B, wherein &#x201c;x1,&#x201d; &#x201c;x2,&#x201d; &#x201c;y&#x201d; and &#x201c;z&#x201d; have the values given for the empirical formula shown above.

Cathode material for lithium rechargeable batteries

An electrode for use in an electrolytic cell and an associated process, wherein the electrode includes a current collecting substrate, an electrode active material having at least one component including inclusions no greater than one micron within a carbon particle. The carbon particle has a dibutyl phthalate (DBP) absorption rate preferably within a range of approximately 52 ml/100 g to approximately 400 ml/100 g.

Electrode materials having carbon particles with nano-sized inclusions

The present invention is directed to a lithium ion electrolytic cell having a controlled electrode surface interface, and, an associated electrochemical process. The lithium ion electrolytic cell includes an electrode with a carbonaceous surface and a passivating layer, and, an electrolyte having a solvent. The passivating layer includes lithium, carbon and at least one of an additive or the product of interaction of the additive with the carbonaceous surface. The passivating layer has, as measured by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a relative thickness index within the range of about from 10 to about 90, and a lithium ion content index in the range from about 0.1 to about 0.7.

Lithium ion electrolytic cell having a controlled electrode surface

An electrode for use in an electrolytic cell and an associated process, wherein the electrode includes a current collecting substrate, an electrode active material having at least one component including inclusions no greater than one micron within a carbon particle. The electrode includes degradation preclusion mean which comprise the inclusions having a volumetric variation which is less than the maximum elasticity of the associated carbon particle.

The present invention relates to secondary electrolytic cells, and more particularly, to lithium ion electrolytic cells with an inorganic binder and an associated process for fabrication of same. A binder material is mixed with an active material for eventual application onto the surface of a first and/or second electrode. The binder material is soluble with the active material yet insoluble with respect to the associated organic electrolyte.

Lithium ion electrolytic cell and method for fabricating same

The present invention is directed to an electrolytic cell having a controlled electrode surface interface, and, an associated manufacturing and chemical process. The electrolytic cell includes an electrode with a carbon surface, and, an electrolyte having a solvent. An additive, associated with at least one of the electrolyte or first and second electrodes, reacts with the carbon surface to form a passivating layer so as to block chemical interaction between the carbon surface and the solvent. Furthermore, the additive will not result in gas formation upon its decomposition.

Electrolytic cell having a controlled electrode surface interface

An electrolytic cell and process for treating an alkali metal electrode, wherein an additive is applied to the electrode so as to result in a predominately additive interface between the electrode and an electrolyte. The additive interface is ionically conductive yet non-ionic. In addition, the additive interface is substantially inert when in contact with the electrode, while being substantially insoluble in the electrolyte.

Electrolytic cell and process for treating an alkali metal electrode

A current collector device for a rechargeable electrolytic cell and method for manufacturing same. The device includes an aluminum current collector having a substantially reduced oxidation layer relative to its native oxide layer, to, in turn, exhibit a relatively low interfacial impedance. A layer of electrode material is applied and adhered to the surface of the aluminum current collector to enable electrochemical activity with the particular ions in an electrolyte within the electrolytic cell. A primer may be applied between the electrode material and the aluminum current collector, wherein the primer serves to substantially preclude re-growth of the oxide layer which would otherwise occur absent such a primer.

Current collector device

Current collector device and method of manufacturing same

An electrolytic cell having an electrolyte, a first and second electrode and a primer comprised of lithium polysilicate and carbon, applied to at least one of the first and second electrodes, wherein the primer is chemically and electrochemically stable and electronically conductive so as to decrease interfacial resistance in the cell to enhance columbic efficiency.

Electrolytic cell and electrolytic process

An electrolytic cell, such as a rechargeable lithium battery, having cavitands associated with a metal ion source-electrode and an electrolyte. The cavitands, which are anchored to the electrode by a polymer leash, are capable of releasably attracting particular ions, such as lithium ions, which are migrating from the electrolyte, toward the surface of the electrode during electrodeposition. The polymer leash serves to continuously maintain the cavitands at a predetermined distance away from the surface of the electrode, regardless of surface area fluctuations, typically caused during deposition and dissolution of the particular ions. Accordingly, the cavitands facilitate substantially uniform electrodeposition of the particular ions, which, in turn, substantially suppresses and/or controls the formation and growth of a passive film or layer, on the electrode surface, which may otherwise promote the formation of dendrites.

Cavitand electrolytic cell and electrolytic process

An electrolytic cell using small particle graphite and an electrolytic process wherein the electrolytic cell includes an electrode constructed with a lithium source and another electrode constructed with relatively small graphite particles. The graphite particles possess physical attributes which serve to increase the reversible capacity of the graphite beyond the known theoretical capacity of 372 mAh/g of LiC.sub.6.

Electrolytic cell using small particle graphite

An electrolytic cell and electrolytic process wherein the cell includes a metal anode, such as a lithium anode, a cathode and an electrolyte. The surface of the anode is treated with a substantially non-continuous electronically conductive particulate coating, wherein the particulate may consist of carbon. This non-continuously applied particulate coating not only provokes the formation of a stable passivating layer (toward suppression of dendritic growth), but it also serves to lower and substantially sustain interfacial resistance at the surface of the anode during the life of the cell.

Particulate interface for electrolytic cells and electrolytic process

An electrolytic cell and electrolytic process wherein the cell includes a metal anode (such as a lithium anode), a cathode and an electrolyte. A surface layer which is applied to the metal anode enables transfer of ions from the metal anode to the electrolyte and thus allows the ions to pass back into contact with the metal anode. The surface layer is also electronically conductive so that the ions will be uniformally attracted back onto the metal anode during electrodeposition to, in turn, substantially suppress dendrite growth and, in turn, substantially increase the cycle life of the cell.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Jie Shi