Umicore

Umicore Korea, Ltd.

Imec

Randy De Palma

Jens M Paulsen

JiHye Kim

Song-Yi Han

Areum Park

Kyung-Tae Lee

Kris Driesen

HeonPyo Hong

Daniël Nelis

Stephane Levasseur

Michèle Van Thournout

Philippe Carlach

Dae-Hyun Kim

Kyubo Kim

Kasper Lambrighs

Sung Ho Cho

Liang Zhu

Karolien Jans

Eric Robert

HyeJeong Yang

Wim Laureyn

Jin Hu

Hyo Sun Ahn

Dirk Vanhoutte

Sung Jun Cho

Heonpyo Hong

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.

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

A crystalline precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li((Ni(NiMn)Co)A)O, wherein A comprises at least one element of the group consisting of: Mg, Al, Ca, Si, B, W, Zr, Ti, Nb, Ba, and Sr, with 0.05&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.40, 0.25&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.85, x+y+z=1, 0&#x2264;k&#x2264;0.10, and 0&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.053, wherein said crystalline precursor powder has a crystalline size L, expressed in nm, with 15&#x2264;L&#x2264;36.

Precursor and method for preparing Ni based cathode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries

This invention relates to an industrial process of manufacturing hydroxide precursor for lithium transition metal oxide used in secondary lithium ion batteries. More particularly, this process utilizes highly concentrated nitrate salts and is designed to mitigate waste production.

Nitrate process for manufacturing transition metal hydroxide precursors

A crystalline precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li((Ni(NiMn)Co)A)O, wherein x+y+z=1, 0.1&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.4, 0.25&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.52, A is a dopant, 0&#x2264;k&#x2264;0.1, and 0.03&#x2264;a&#x2264;0.35, wherein the precursor has a crystalline size L expressed in nm, with 15&#x2264;L&#x2264;36. Also a method is described for manufacturing a positive electrode material having a general formula Li'M&#x2032;&#x2212;O, with M&#x2032;=(Ni(NiMn)CO)A, wherein x+y+z=1.0.1&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.4, 0.25&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.52, A is a dopant, 0&#x2264;k&#x2264;0.1, and 0.01&#x2264;a&#x2032;&#x2264;0.10, by sintering the lithium deficient precursor powder mixed with either one of LiOH, LiOH.HO, in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature between 800 and 1000&#xb0; C., for a time between 6 and 36 hrs.

A particulate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium transition metal (M)-oxide powder for use as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, wherein (M) is NiMnCoA, A being a dopant, wherein 0.33&#x2264;x&#x2264;0.60, 0.20&#x2264;y&#x2264;0.33, and 0.20&#x2264;z&#x2264;0.33, v&#x2264;0.05, and x+y+z+v=1, the precursor comprising Ni, Mn and Co in a molar ratio x:y:z and having a specific surface area BET in m/g and a sulfur content S expressed in wt %, wherein formula (I).

Precursors for lithium transition metal oxide cathode materials for rechargeable batteries

The invention provides a cathode active material for use in a rechargeable battery, comprising a coated lithium nickel oxide powder or a coated lithium nickel manganese oxide powder, the powder being composed of primary particles provided with a glassy lithium silicate surface coating. A method for preparing the cathode active material comprises the steps of:

Glass-coated cathode powders for rechargeable batteries

A carbonate precursor compound of a lithium manganese based oxide powder for a positive electrode of a rechargeable battery, the oxide having the general formula LiMO, wherein &#x2212;0.03&#x2264;v&#x2264;0.25, wherein M is a composition comprising at least 50 mol % of manganese, and wherein the carbonate precursor compound has a secondary particle size D50 expressed in &#x3bc;m, and a tap density TD expressed in g/cm, with either 1&#x2264;TD&#x2264;(2.78*D50)/(D50+7.23) and the compound having a particle size distribution having a span S&#x2264;1.8 with S=(D90&#x2212;D10)/D50; or 1&#x2264;TD&#x2264;(2.78*D50)/(D50+7.50).

Carbonate precursors for high lithium and manganese containing cathode materials

The invention relates to cathode materials for Li-ion batteries having a size dependent compositions. The lithium metal oxide powder has a general formula LiNiCoMnM'OA, with 0.9&#x3c;a&#x3c;1.1, 0.2&#x2266;x&#x2266;0.9, 0&#x3c;y&#x2266;0.4, 0&#x3c;z&#x2266;0.7, 0&#x2266;m&#x2266;0.35, e&#x3c;0.02, 0&#x2266;f&#x2266;0.05 and 0.9&#x3c;(x+y+z+m+f)&#x3c;1.1; 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, C, Cl, S, Zr, Ba, Y, Ca, B, Sn, Sb, Na and Zn. The powder has a particle size distribution defining a D10 and a D90; wherein either x1&#x2212;x2&#x2267;0.005; or z2&#x2212;z1&#x2267;0.005; or both x1&#x2212;x2&#x2267;0.005 and z2&#x2212;z1&#x2267;0.005; x1 and z1 being the values of x and z of particles having a particle size D90; and x2 and z2 being the values of x and z of particles having a particle size D10.

Positive electrode material having a size dependent composition

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 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

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.

Growing community of inventors

Maasmechelen, Belgium

Randy De Palma