Umicore

Centre National De La Recherche Scientifique

Philippe Carlach

Stephane Levasseur

Randy De Palma

Michèle Van Thournout

Jean-Marie Tarascon

Christian Masquelier

Pierre Gibot

The invention relates to a LiNiCoMnM'Ocomposite oxide for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, with a non-homogenous Ni/M&#x2032; ratio in the particles, allowing excellent power and safety properties when used as positive electrode material in Li battery. More particularly, in the formula 0.9&#x3c;a&#x3c;1.1, 0.3&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.9, 0&#x3c;y&#x2266;0.4, 0&#x3c;y&#x2032;&#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+y&#x2032;+z+f)&#x3c;1.1; M&#x2032; consists of either one or more elements from the group Al, Mg, Ti, Cr, V, Fe, Mn and Ga; N consists of either one or more elements from the group F, Cl, S, Zr, Ba, Y, Ca, B, Sn, Sb, Na and Zn. The powder has a particle size distribution defining a D10, D50 and D90; and the x and z parameters varying with the particles size of the powder, and is characterized in that either one or both of:1&#x2212;2&#x2267;0.005and2&#x2212;1&#x2267;0.005;x1 and z1 being the parameters corresponding to particles having a particle size D90; and x2 and z2 being the parameters corresponding to particles having a particle size D10.

Positive electrode materials combining high safety and high power in a Li rechargeable battery

The invention relates to a LiNiCoMOAcomposite oxide for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, with a non-homogenous Ni/Al ratio in the particles, allowing excellent power and safety properties when used as positive electrode material in Li battery. More particularly, in the formula 0.9&#x3c;a&#x3c;1.1, 0.3&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.9, 0&#x2266;y&#x2266;0.4, 0&#x3c;z&#x2266;0.35, e=0, 0&#x2266;f&#x2266;0.05 and 0.9&#x3c;(x+y+z+f)&#x3c;1.1; M consists of either one or more elements from the group Al, Mg and Ti; A consists of either one or more elements from the group S and C. The powder has a particle size distribution defining a D10, D50 and D90; and said x and z parameters varying with the particles size of said powder, and is characterized in that either one or both of: x1&#x2212;x2&#x2267;0.010 and z2&#x2212;z1&#x2267;0.010; x1 and z1 being the parameters corresponding to particles having a particle size D90; and x2 and z2 being the parameters corresponding to particles having a particle size D10.

Non-homogenous positive electrode materials combining high safety and high power in a Li rechargeable battery

The invention relates to active materials for the manufacture of Li-based batteries. A crystalline nanometric powdered material with formula Li(M, M')PO, in particular LiFePO(O&#x2266;x&#x2266;1), is disclosed, exhibiting single phase Li insertion/extraction mechanism at room temperature when used as positive electrode material in Li-based batteries. Compared to current LiFePO, the novel material results in smooth, sloping charge/discharge voltage curve greatly simplifying the monitoring of the state of charge of the batteries. The coexistence of mixed valence states for Fe (i.e. FeVFe) is believed to increase the electronic conductivity in the room temperature single phase LiFePOmaterial, compared to state of the art two-phase materials. This, together with the nanometric size of the particles and their sharp monomodal size distribution, contributes to the exceptional high-rate capability demonstrated in batteries.

Room temperature single phase Li insertion/extraction material for use in Li-based battery

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Antwerp, Belgium

Philippe Carlach