Umicore

Kasper Lambrighs

Randy De Palma

Dae-Hyun Kim

Jens M Paulsen

HyeJeong Yang

Liang Zhu

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

The present invention provides a process is presented for preparing a positive electrode active material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries. The process comprises a sintering step having a short sintering time. This improves the production throughput. More particularly, the process applies to positive electrode active material powders having a general formula Li(NiMnCoMe)O, wherein Me comprises at least one element of the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, Zr, W, Nb, B, and Sr, with −0.1≤a≤0.1, 0.33≤x≤0.95, 0≤y≤0.35, 0<z≤0.35, 0≤c≤0.05, and x+y+z+c=1. The sintering step is performed for a predefined sintering time t, expressed in hours, and at a predefined temperature T, expressed in ° C., such that 0.3≤t≤6.0, and 1140+50 Log(6/t)−580 x≤T≤1245+50 Log(6/t)−580 x.

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Brussels, Belgium

Kasper Lambrighs