Polymer electrolyte, intercalation compounds and electrodes for batteries

Abstract

Solid battery components are provided. A block copolymeric electrolyte is non-crosslinked and non-glassy through the entire range of typical battery service temperatures, that is, through the entire range of at least from about 0° C. to about 70° C. The chains of which the copolymer is made each include at least one ionically-conductive block and at least one second block immiscible with the ionically-conductive block. The chains form an amorphous association and are arranged in an ordered nanostructure including a continuous matrix of amorphous ionically-conductive domains and amorphous second domains that are immiscible with the ionically-conductive domains. A compound is provided that has a formula of Li x M y N z O 2 . M and N are each metal atoms or a main group elements, and x, y and z are each numbers from about 0 to about 1. y and z are chosen such that a formal charge on the M y N z portion of the compound is (4−x). In certain embodiments, these compounds are used in the cathodes of rechargeable batteries. The present invention also includes methods of predicting the potential utility of metal dichalgogenide compounds for use in lithium intercalation compounds. It also provides methods for processing lithium intercalation oxides with the structure and compositional homogeneity necessary to realize the increased formation energies of said compounds. An article is made of a dimensionally-stable, interpenetrating microstructure of a first phase including a first component and a second phase, immiscible with the first phase, including a second component. The first and second phases define interphase boundaries between them, and at least one particle is positioned between a first phase and a second phase at an interphase boundary. When the first and second phases are electronically-conductive and ionically-conductive polymers, respectively, and the particles are ion host particles, the arrangement is an electrode of a battery.

1 . A composition of matter, comprising a compound having a formula Li x M y N z O 2 , wherein M is a metal atom or a main group element, N is a metal atom or a main group element, x, y and z are all numbers in the range of >0 to about 1, and y and z are such that a formal charge on a M y N z  portion of the compound is (4−x), provided that where one of M or N is Ni the other may not be Al, B or Sn, and further provided that where one of M or N is Co the other may not be Al, B, Sn, In, Si, Mg, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ti or P.  
     
     
         2 . A composition as in  claim 1 , wherein the compound has a formula LiNi y Mn z O 2 .  
     
     
         3 . A composition as in  claim 1 , the composition being homogeneous such that at least 50% of the material is single-phase and free of LiMO 2  or LiNO 2  particles, as determined by x-ray diffraction techniques.  
     
     
         4 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein each oxygen atom of the compound has at least about 25% p-level characteristic at a Fermi energy of the compound as measured according to a pseudo potential technique.  
     
     
         5 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein each oxygen atom of the compound has at least about 30% p-level characteristic at a Fermi energy of the compound as measured according to a pseudo potential technique.  
     
     
         6 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein N is selected from the group consisting of Co and Ni.  
     
     
         7 . A composition according to  claim 6 , wherein N is Co.  
     
     
         8 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein the composition has an electrical conductivity of at least about 1×10 −5  Siemen/cm.  
     
     
         9 . A composition according to  claim 1 , prepared by mixing powders of constituent metal hydroxides, and heating to 400-1000° C.  
     
     
         10 . A composition according to  claim 1 , in which 0<y<0.75.  
     
     
         11 . A composition according to  claim 1 , in which 0<y<0.5.  
     
     
         12 . A composition according to  claim 1 , in which 0.15<y<0.5  
     
     
         13 . A composition according to  claim 1 , in which M is Mn.  
     
     
         14 . A composition according to  claim 13 , in which 0.05<y<0.75.  
     
     
         15 . A composition according to  claim 1 , which upon cycling exhibits two voltage plateaus characteristic of the spinel structure and which, after cycling 20 times, can be repeatedly cycled over both of the two voltage plateaus while exhibiting a capacity equal to at least 90% of the first discharge capacity.  
     
     
         16 . A composition according to  claim 1 , constructed and arranged as an ion host particle in electronic communication with an electronically-conductive component and in ionic communication with an ionically-conductive component.  
     
     
         17 . A composition according to  claim 1 , wherein each of the electronically-conductive component and the ionically-conductive component is polymeric.