Low-cobalt and cobalt-free, high-energy cathode materials for lithium batteries

Abstract

Described herein are low or no-cobalt materials useful as electrode active materials in a cathode for lithium or lithium-ion batteries. For example, compositions of matter are described herein, such as electrode active materials that can be incorporated into an electrode, such as a cathode. The disclosed electrode active materials exhibit high specific energy and voltage, and can also exhibit high rate capability and/or long operational lifetime.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electrode active material comprising:
 Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O d , wherein:
 a is from 0.9 to 1.1, 
 b is from 0 to 0.05, 
 c is from 0 to 0.67, 
 d is from 1.9 to 2.1, and 
 M is Mn, Al, Mg, Fe, Cr, B, Ti, Zr, Ga, Zn, V, Cu, Yb, Li, Na, K, F, Ba, Ca, Lu, Y, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Ta, Pr, W, Ir, In, Tl, Sn, Sr, S, P, Cl, Ge, Sb, Er, Te, La, Ce, Nd, Dy, Eu, Sc, Se, Si, Tc, Pd, Pm, Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, or any combination of these, 
   the Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O d  comprising a plurality of secondary particles, the secondary particles comprising a plurality of primary particles, wherein:
 the plurality of secondary particles are substantially spherical in shape, and 
 the plurality of secondary particles have an average secondary particle size, wherein at least about 80% of the secondary particles have a secondary particle size that is within a specified secondary particle size range of from about 50% to about 200% of the average secondary particle size. 
   
     
     
         2 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein b is from 0 to 0.03. 
     
     
         3 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein c is from 0.05 to 0.40. 
     
     
         4 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein 1-b-c is from 0.60 to 0.95. 
     
     
         5 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein M comprises one or more of Mn, Al, or Mg. 
     
     
         6 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of primary particles have cross-sectional dimensions of from 10 nm to 10 μm. 
     
     
         7 . The electrode active material of  claim 1 , exhibiting or characterized by an original specific energy for a first discharge of from 600 Wh·kg −1  to 1000 Wh·kg −1  and a specific energy for another discharge after about 500 charge-discharge cycles of from 480 Wh·kg −1  to 1000 Wh·kg −1 . 
     
     
         8 . An electrode comprising the electrode active material of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         9 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a cathode, the cathode comprising the electrode of  claim 8 ;   an anode; and   an electrolyte between the cathode and the anode.   
     
     
         10 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 9 , wherein the anode comprises graphite, carbon, silicon, lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 ), tin, antimony, zinc, phosphorous, lithium, or a combination thereof, and wherein the electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte, a semi-solid electrolyte, or a solid electrolyte. 
     
     
         11 . An electrode active material comprising:
 Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O d , wherein:
 a is from 0.9 to 1.1, 
 b is from 0 to 0.05, 
 c is from 0 to 0.67, 
 d is from 1.9 to 2.1, and 
 M is Mn, Al, Mg, Fe, Cr, B, Ti, Zr, Ga, Zn, V, Cu, Yb, Li, Na, K, F, Ba, Ca, Lu, Y, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Ta, Pr, W, Ir, In, Tl, Sn, Sr, S, P, Cl, Ge, Sb, Er, Te, La, Ce, Nd, Dy, Eu, Sc, Se, Si, Tc, Pd, Pm, Sm, Gd, Tb, Ho, Tm, or any combination of these, 
   the Li a Ni 1-b-c Co b M c O d  comprising a plurality of secondary particles, the secondary particles comprising a plurality of primary particles, wherein the plurality of primary particles have cross-sectional dimensions of from about 50 nm to 1 μm.   
     
     
         12 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , wherein b is from 0 to 0.03. 
     
     
         13 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , wherein c is from 0.04 to 0.30 
     
     
         14 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , wherein 1-b-c is from 0.60 to 0.95. 
     
     
         15 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , wherein M comprises one or more of Mn, Al, or Mg. 
     
     
         16 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of secondary particles have cross-sectional dimensions of from 500 nm to 30 μm. 
     
     
         17 . The electrode active material of  claim 11 , exhibiting or characterized by an original specific energy for a first discharge of from 600 Wh·kg −1  to 1000 Wh·kg −1  and a specific energy for another discharge after about 500 charge-discharge cycles of from 480 Wh·kg −1  to 1000 Wh·kg −1 . 
     
     
         18 . An electrode comprising the electrode active material of  claim 11 . 
     
     
         19 . An electrochemical cell comprising:
 a cathode, the cathode comprising the electrode of  claim 18 ;   an anode; and   an electrolyte between the cathode and the anode.   
     
     
         20 . The electrochemical cell of  claim 19 , wherein the anode comprises graphite, carbon, silicon, lithium titanate (Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 ), tin, antimony, zinc, phosphorous, lithium, or a combination thereof, and wherein the electrolyte is a liquid electrolyte, a semi-solid electrolyte, or a solid electrolyte.