Precursors of cathode materials for a rechargeable lithium ion battery

Abstract

A method for manufacturing a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure, comprising the steps of: —providing an first aqueous solution comprising a source of Co, —providing a second aqueous solution comprising Na2CO3, —mixing both solutions in a precipitation reactor at a temperature above 70° C., thereby precipitating a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound whilst evacuating from the reactor any CO2 formed by the precipitation reaction, wherein the residence time of the compound in the reactor is between 1 and 4 hours, and—recovering the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound. The cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound is used as a precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries.

1 - 16  (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . Use of a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound, having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure as a precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries. 
     
     
         18 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 17 , wherein the compound has the general formula [Co 1-a A a ] 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 , A being one or more of Ni, Mn, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg, with a≤0.05. 
     
     
         19 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 17  in a mixture with cobalt carbonate, wherein in the XRD pattern of the mixture the peak ratio P has a value <1, with P=P1/P2, P1 being the maximum peak intensity at 32˜33 degree, and P2 being the maximum peak intensity at 34˜35 degree. 
     
     
         20 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 17 , wherein the compound further comprises Na as an impurity of up to 0.3 wt %. 
     
     
         21 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 17 , wherein the compound has a particle size distribution with D50 between 15 and 25 μm and a span <0.80. 
     
     
         22 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 17 , wherein the compound has a spherical morphology and a tap density >1.8 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         23 . Use of the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound of  claim 18 , wherein A is one or both of Al and Mg, with 0.002≤a≤0.020, and wherein one or both of Al and Mg is homogeneously doped in the compound. 
     
     
         24 . A precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide comprising a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure. 
     
     
         25 . The precursor of  claim 24 , wherein the compound has the general formula [Co 1-a A a ] 2 (OH) 2 CO 3 , A being one or more of Ni, Mn, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg, with a≤0.05. 
     
     
         26 . The precursor of  claim 24 , further comprising cobalt carbonate, wherein the cobalt carbonate is mixed with the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound to form a mixture, and in the XRD pattern of the mixture the peak ratio P has a value <1, with P=P1/P2, P1 being the maximum peak intensity at 32˜33 degree, and P2 being the maximum peak intensity at 34˜35 degree. 
     
     
         27 . The precursor of  claim 24 , wherein the compound further comprises Na as an impurity of up to 0.3 wt %. 
     
     
         28 . The precursor of  claim 24 , wherein the compound has a particle size distribution with D50 between 15 and 25 μm and a span <0.80. 
     
     
         29 . The precursor of  claim 24 , wherein the compound has a spherical morphology and a tap density >1.8 g/cm 3 . 
     
     
         30 . The precursor of  claim 25 , wherein A is one or both of Al and Mg, with 0.002≤a≤0.020, and wherein one or both of Al and Mg is homogeneously doped in the compound.