Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M4/00—Electrodes
  • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
  • H01M4/13—Electrodes for accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte, e.g. for lithium-accumulators; Processes of manufacture thereof
  • H01M4/136—Electrodes based on inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M4/00—Electrodes
  • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
  • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
  • H01M4/48—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic oxides or hydroxides
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B82—NANOTECHNOLOGY
  • B82Y—SPECIFIC USES OR APPLICATIONS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MEASUREMENT OR ANALYSIS OF NANOSTRUCTURES; MANUFACTURE OR TREATMENT OF NANOSTRUCTURES
  • B82Y30/00—Nanotechnology for materials or surface science, e.g. nanocomposites
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B13/00—Oxygen; Ozone; Oxides or hydroxides in general
  • C01B13/14—Methods for preparing oxides or hydroxides in general
  • C01B13/18—Methods for preparing oxides or hydroxides in general by thermal decomposition of compounds, e.g. of salts or hydroxides
  • C01B13/185—Preparing mixtures of oxides
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01B—NON-METALLIC ELEMENTS; COMPOUNDS THEREOF; METALLOIDS OR COMPOUNDS THEREOF NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASS C01C
  • C01B32/00—Carbon; Compounds thereof
  • C01B32/60—Preparation of carbonates or bicarbonates in general
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01G—COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
  • C01G53/00—Compounds of nickel
  • C01G53/40—Complex oxides containing nickel and at least one other metal element
  • C01G53/42—Complex oxides containing nickel and at least one other metal element containing alkali metals, e.g. LiNiO2
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01G—COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
  • C01G53/00—Compounds of nickel
  • C01G53/40—Complex oxides containing nickel and at least one other metal element
  • C01G53/42—Complex oxides containing nickel and at least one other metal element containing alkali metals, e.g. LiNiO2
  • C01G53/44—Complex oxides containing nickel and at least one other metal element containing alkali metals, e.g. LiNiO2 containing manganese
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01G—COMPOUNDS CONTAINING METALS NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C01D OR C01F
  • C01G53/00—Compounds of nickel
  • C01G53/80—Compounds containing nickel, with or without oxygen or hydrogen, and containing one or more other elements
  • C01G53/82—Compounds containing nickel, with or without oxygen or hydrogen, and containing two or more other elements
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M10/00—Secondary cells; Manufacture thereof
  • H01M10/05—Accumulators with non-aqueous electrolyte
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01M—PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
  • H01M4/00—Electrodes
  • H01M4/02—Electrodes composed of, or comprising, active material
  • H01M4/36—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids
  • H01M4/58—Selection of substances as active materials, active masses, active liquids of inorganic compounds other than oxides or hydroxides, e.g. sulfides, selenides, tellurides, halogenides or LiCoFy; of polyanionic structures, e.g. phosphates, silicates or borates
  • H01M4/5825—Oxygenated metallic salts or polyanionic structures, e.g. borates, phosphates, silicates, olivines
• • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
  • C01—INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
  • C01P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO STRUCTURAL AND PHYSICAL ASPECTS OF SOLID INORGANIC COMPOUNDS
  • C01P2004/00—Particle morphology
  • C01P2004/10—Particle morphology extending in one dimension, e.g. needle-like
  • C01P2004/13—Nanotubes
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
  • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
  • Y02E60/00—Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
  • Y02E60/10—Energy storage using batteries

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a process for preparing precursors for transition metal mixed oxides, wherein
• Electrochemical cells for example batteries or accumulators, can be employed for storing electric energy.
• Lithium ion batteries have recently attracted considerable interest. They are superior in some technical aspects to conventional batteries. Thus, they can generate voltages which cannot be obtained using batteries based on aqueous electrolytes.
• the materials of which the electrodes are made and in particular the material of which the cathode is made play an important role.
• lithium-comprising transition metal mixed oxides in particular lithium-comprising nickel-cobalt-manganese oxides, which may be doped with one or more transition metals are used.
• Such lithium-comprising transition metal mixed oxides are usually made in a two-stage process in which a sparingly soluble compound or a mixture of a plurality of sparingly soluble compounds is firstly precipitated from one or more solutions of transition metal salts; this sparingly soluble compound or mixture is also referred to as precursor.
• This precursor is treated thermally, usually in the range from 600 to 1000°C, in a second stage.
• US 2009/0194746 discloses a process in which nickel-, manganese- and cobalt-comprising precursors are obtained by precipitation of mixed carbonates having a particular tap density, BET surface area and particle size.
• the process is based on mixing at least three different solutions with one another: a solution of transition metal salts, for example the chlorides, a solution of metal carbonates, in particular alkali metal carbonates, and a solution of metal salts of the anion of the transition metal salts, i.e., for example, alkali metal chloride.
• the alkali metal salt which is additionally used for example the alkali metal chloride, is obtained as waste and has to be worked up or disposed of.
• US 2009/0197173 discloses a process for making oxide- and hydroxide-free carbonates of nickel, manganese and cobalt which have a high BET surface area. Solutions of firstly nickel chloride, cobalt chloride and manganese chloride and secondly sodium hydrogencarbonate are mixed. However, a disadvantage is the moderate solubility of sodium hydrogencarbonate, so that large volumes of sodium hydrogencarbonate solution have to be processed.
• US 2006/0121350 discloses a process by means of which particles which are a mixture of a plurality of carbonates of nickel, manganese and cobalt and a further carbonate of the formula DCO3 and a hydroxide of the formula D(OH) can be produced.
• solutions of transition metal salts and of salts of D are admixed with U2CO3.
• a disadvantage of this process is that lithium carbonate is comparatively expensive and can be recovered only by work-up of the mother liquor. It was therefore an object of the invention to provide a process by means of which improved precursors for transition metal mixed oxides and electrode materials can be prepared.
• a further object was to provide improved electrodes and improved electrochemical cells.
• Step (A) uses optionally basic transition metal carbonate as a starting material.
• the starting material can be transition metal carbonate of the formula MCO3, for example, where M is a divalent cation of one or more transition metals, preferably Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti and/or Cr, particularly preferably Ni, Co and Mn.
• M is a divalent cation of one or more transition metals, preferably Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti and/or Cr, particularly preferably Ni, Co and Mn.
• M is one or more transition metals
• A is sodium or potassium
• B is one or more metals of groups 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, excluding sodium and potassium
• X is halide, nitrate or carboxylate
• b is in the range from 0.75 to 0.98
• c is in the range from zero to 0.50
• d is in the range from zero to 0.50
• e is in the range from zero to 0.1 ,
• f is in the range from zero to 0.05
• g is in the range from zero to 0.05
• h is in the range from zero to 0.10
• m is in the range from 0.002 to 0.1 ,
• step (A) is carried out at temperatures in the range from 200°C to 900°C, preferably from 300 to 600°C.
• Step (A) can be carried out at any pressure. Suitable pressures are, for example, from 1 to 10 bar, with preference being given to atmospheric pressure.
• Step (A) can be carried out continuously or batchwise.
• the thermal treatment in step (A) can be carried out, for example, in a rotary tube furnace, a rocker reactor, a muffle furnace, a fused silica bulb furnace, a batch or continuous calcination furnace or a push-through furnace.
• the thermal treatment in step (A) can, for example, be carried out in an oxidizing atmosphere, in an inert atmosphere or in a reducing atmosphere.
• An example of an oxidizing atmosphere is air.
• Examples of an inert atmosphere are a noble gas atmosphere, in particular an argon atmosphere, a carbon dioxide atmosphere and a nitrogen atmosphere.
• a reducing atmosphere are nitrogen or noble gases, comprising from 0.1 to 10% by volume of carbon monoxide or hydrogen.
• Step (A) is preferably carried out in air.
• the treatment time in step (A) can be in the range from 5 minutes to 24 hours.
• the material after the treatment in step (A) preferably no longer comprises any measurable amount of physisorbed water.
• optionally basic transition metal carbonate is chosen from material having the formula (I)
• M is one or more transition metals, for example Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti, Cr, preferably from two to four transition metals, particularly preferably three transition metals, in particular combinations of nickel, manganese and cobalt,
• A is sodium or potassium
• B is one or more metals of groups 1 to 3 of the Periodic Table, with the exception of sodium and potassium, with preference being given to cesium, rubidium and particularly preferably lithium, magnesium, calcium and aluminum and also mixtures of two or more of the abovementioned elements,
• X is halide, for example bromide, preferably chloride, particularly preferably fluoride, also nitrate or carboxylate, preferably Ci-Cz-carboxylate, in particular benzoate or acetate, is in the range from 0.75 to 0.98, is in the range from zero to 0.50, preferably up to 0.30, d is in the range from zero to 0.50, preferably up to 0.30,
• M is chosen from at least two transition metals selected from among Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti and Cr. Very preferably M is chosen as combinations of Ni, Mn and Co. In an embodiment of the present invention, from 55 to 85 mol% of M is chosen as Mn, i.e. M is chosen so that from 55 to 85 mol% of M is manganese, and the balance is selected from one or more other transition metals, preferably from among Ni, Co, Fe, Cu, Zn, Ti and/or Cr and particularly preferably as a combination of Ni and Co.
• an aqueous solution comprising a water- soluble salt of transition metal M or water-soluble salts of transition metal(s) M and optionally A and B can be used as starting material.
• aqueous solution of transition metal salt(s) are, for example, carboxylic acid salts, in particular acetates, of transition metal M, also sulfates, nitrates, halides, in particular bromides or chlorides, of transition metal M, where M is preferably present in the oxidation state +2.
• an optionally basic transition metal carbonate which has a plurality of transition metals M is to be used, it is possible to start out from an aqueous solution having two or more counterions as anions, for example by using an aqueous solution of cobalt chloride, nickel chloride and manganese acetate.
• salts of a plurality of transition metals which each have the same counterions are used.
• the aqueous solution of transition metal salt(s) can have a total concentration of M in the range from 0.01 to 5 mol/l, with preference being given to from 1 to 3 mol/l.
• the variables f, g and h in formula (I) are determined by which transition metal salts are used in the aqueous solution of transition metal(s).
• transition metal salts are used in the aqueous solution of transition metal(s).
• the precipitation of optionally basic transition metal carbonate can preferably be brought about by combining the aqueous solution of transition metal salt(s) in one or more steps with an aqueous solution of one or more alkali metal carbonates, for example by addition of a solution of alkali metal carbonate to the aqueous solution of transition metal salt(s).
• alkali metal carbonates are sodium carbonate and potassium carbonate.
• the precipitation is brought about by addition of an aqueous solution of sodium carbonate or potassium carbonate to an aqueous solution of acetates, sulfates or nitrates of transition metal(s) M.
• water-comprising, optionally basic transition metal carbonate is generally separated off from the mother liquor. It can then be washed and dried at temperatures of from 20 to 150°C.
• mother liquor refers to water, water-soluble salts and any further additives present in solution.
• Possible water-soluble salts are, for example, alkali metal salts of the counterions of transition metal M, for example sodium acetate, potassium acetate, sodium sulfate, potassium sulfate, sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate, sodium halide, in particular sodium chloride, potassium halide, also additional salts, any additives used and also possibly excess alkali metal carbonate.
• Separation can be effected, for example, by filtration, centrifugation, decantation or spray drying or by a combination of two or more of the abovementioned operations.
• Suitable apparatuses are, for example, filter presses, belt filters, hydrocyclones, slant plate clarifiers or a combination of the abovementioned apparatus.
• optionally basic transition metal carbonate is present in the form of spherical particles. This means that the particles are essentially spherical.
• essentially spherical also encompasses, for example, particles which are not strictly spherical, for example ellipsoidal particles in which the semi-major axis and the semi-minor axis differ by not more than 10%.
• the morphology of optionally basic transition metal carbonate can be determined by microscopy, for example by optical microscopy or scanning electron microscopy.
• the term "essentially spherical” also encompasses samples of particles which are not strictly spherical for which at least 95% (weight average) of the particles of a representative sample have an essentially spherical shape.
• the particle diameter (D50) of water-comprising material is in the range from 2 to 50 ⁇ .
• the particle diameter (D50) is, for the purposes of the present invention, the average particle diameter (weight average) as can be determined, for example, by light scattering. Washing is carried out in step (B) of the process of the invention.
• Washing can be carried out using water, for example.
• washing can be carried out using alcohol water mixtures, for example ethanol water mixtures or isopropanol/water mixtures, Preferably, washing is carried out using water which does not comprise any alcohol.
• the efficiency of the washing steps can be checked by means of analytic measures.
• analytic measures For example, the content of transition metal(s) M in the washing water can be analyzed.
• Step (B) is followed by one or more drying steps (C). Drying step(s) (C) can be carried out at room temperature or at elevated temperature. For example, drying can be carried out at temperatures in the range from 30 to 150°C.
• Drying step(s) (C) can be carried out at atmospheric pressure or under reduced pressure, for example at a pressure in the range from 10 mbar to 500 mbar.
• Step (C) Water content and particle diameter of the precursor of transition metal mixed oxide are determined after step (C).
• Materials prepared according to the invention can be readily processed to form transition metal mixed oxides which can be used for producing electrodes of lithium ion batteries.
• the present invention further provides for the use of materials prepared according to the invention for preparing transition metal mixed oxides.
• the invention further provides a process for preparing transition metal mixed oxides using materials according to the invention.
• the preparation of transition metal mixed oxides can be carried out by subjecting a mixture of at least one material prepared according to the invention and at least one lithium compound to thermal treatment at temperatures in the range from 600 to 1000°C.
• Suitable lithium compounds are, for example, metal-organic and preferably inorganic lithium compounds.
• Particularly preferred inorganic lithium compounds are selected from among LiOH, U2CO3, L12O and L1NO3 and also corresponding hydrates, for example LiOH-hbO.
• Mixing can, for example, be carried out by mixing material according to the invention with a lithium compound in a solids mixer.
• the stoichiometry of transition metal mixed oxide is set in the mixture of material according to the invention and lithium compound so that the molar ratio of lithium to the sum of transition metals is in the range from 0.9 to 1.6, preferably from 1 to 1 .25 and particularly preferably up to 1 .1.
• the stoichiometry is set so that the molar ratio of lithium to the sum of transition metals is about 0.5, for example in the range from 0.4 to 0.6.
• Transition metal mixed oxides prepared according to the invention also known as transition metal mixed oxide for short, can be processed very readily, for example because of their good powder flow, and display very good cycling stability when electrochemical cells are produced using transition metal mixed oxide prepared according to the invention.
• Electrodes according to the invention can be produced by firstly processing transition metal mixed oxide to form electrode material.
• Electrode material can also comprise carbon in an electrically conductive modification, for example as carbon black, graphite, graphene, carbon nanotubes or activated carbon, in addition to transition metal mixed oxide.
• Electrode material can further comprise at least one binder, for example a polymeric binder.
• Suitable binders are preferably selected from among organic (co)polymers. Suitable
• (co)polymers i.e. homopolymers or copolymers
• Polypropylene is also suitable.
• polyisoprene and polyacrylates are suitable. Particular preference is given to polyacrylonitrile.
• polyacrylonitrile refers not only to
• polyacrylonitrile homopolymers but also to copolymers of acrylonitrile with 1 ,3-butadiene or styrene. Preference is given to polyacrylonitrile homopolymers.
• polyethylene encompasses not only
• Polyethylene can be HDPE or LDPE.
• polypropylene encompasses not only homopolypropylene but also copolymers of propylene comprising at least 50 mol% of propylene in polymerized form and up to 50 mol% of at least one further comonomer, for example ethylene and oolefins such as butylene, 1 -hexene, 1 -octene, 1 -decene, 1 -dodecene and 1 -pentene.
• Polypropylene is preferably isotactic or essentially isotactic polypropylene.
• polystyrene encompasses not only homopolymers of styrene but also copolymers with acrylonitrile, 1 ,3-butadiene, (meth)acrylic acid, Ci-Cio-alkyl esters of (meth)acrylic acid, divinylbenzene, in particular 1 ,3-divinylbenzene, 1 ,2-diphenylethylene and omethylstyrene.
• Another preferred binder is polybutadiene.
• Suitable binders are selected from among polyethylene oxide (PEO), cellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, polyimides and polyvinyl alcohol.
• binders are selected from among (co)polymers which have an average molecular weight M w in the range from 50 000 to 1 000 000 g/mol, preferably up to 500 000 g/mol.
• Binders can be crosslinked or uncrosslinked (co)polymers.
• binders are selected from among halogenated (co)polymers, in particular fluorinated (co)polymers.
• halogenated or fluorinated (co)polymers are (co)polymers which comprise at least one (co)monomer having at least one halogen atom or at least one fluorine atom per molecule, preferably at least two halogen atoms or at least two fluorine atoms per molecule, in
• Examples are polyvinyl chloride, polyvinylidene chloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoropropylene copolymers, vinylidene fluoride- hexafluoropropylene copolymers (PVdF-HFP), vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether copolymers, ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymers, vinylidene fluoride-chlorotrifluoroethylene copolymers and ethylene-chlorofluoroethylene copolymers.
• Suitable binders are, in particular, polyvinyl alcohol and halogenated (co)polymers, for example polyvinyl chloride or polyvinylidene chloride, in particular fluorinated (co)polymers such as polyvinyl fluoride and in particular polyvinylidene fluoride and polytetrafluoroethylene.
• Electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material can, for example, be selected from among graphite, carbon black, carbon nanotubes, graphene and mixtures of at least two of the abovementioned materials.
• electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material can also be referred to as carbon (B) for short.
• the electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material is carbon black.
• Carbon black can, for example, be selected from among lamp black, furnace black, flame black, thermal black, acetylene black and industrial black.
• Carbon black can comprise impurities, for example hydrocarbons, in particular aromatic hydrocarbons, or oxygen-comprising compounds or oxygen-comprising groups such as OH groups.
• impurities for example hydrocarbons, in particular aromatic hydrocarbons, or oxygen-comprising compounds or oxygen-comprising groups such as OH groups.
• sulfur- or iron-comprising impurities are possible in carbon black.
• the electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material is partially oxidized carbon black.
• the electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material is carbon nanotubes.
• Carbon nanotubes for example single-walled carbon nanotubes (SW CNTs) and preferably multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MW CNTs), are known per se. A process for producing them and some properties are described, for example, by A. Jess et al. in Chemie Ingenieurtechnik 2006, 78, 94 - 100.
• carbon nanotubes have a diameter in the range from 0.4 to 50 nm, preferably from 1 to 25 nm.
• carbon nanotubes have a length in the range from 10 nm to 1 mm, preferably from 100 nm to 500 nm.
• Carbon nanotubes can be produced by processes known per se.
• a volatile carbon-comprising compound such as methane or carbon monoxide, acetylene or ethylene or a mixture of volatile carbon-comprising compounds such as synthesis gas can be decomposed in the presence of one or more reducing agents such as hydrogen and/or a further gas such as nitrogen.
• Another suitable gas mixture is a mixture of carbon monoxide with ethylene.
• Suitable temperatures for the decomposition are, for example, in the range from 400 to 1000°C, preferably from 500 to 800°C.
• Suitable pressure conditions for the decomposition are, for example, in the range from atmospheric pressure to 100 bar, preferably up to 10 bar.
• Single-walled or multi-walled carbon nanotubes can be obtained, for example, by decomposition of carbon-comprising compounds in an electric arc, either in the presence or absence of a decomposition catalyst.
• the decomposition of a volatile carbon-comprising compound or volatile carbon-comprising compounds is carried out in the presence of a decomposition catalyst, for example Fe, Co or preferably Ni.
• a decomposition catalyst for example Fe, Co or preferably Ni.
• graphene refers to virtually ideally or ideally two-dimensional hexagonal carbon crystals which have a structure analogous to individual graphite layers.
• the weight ratio of transition metal mixed oxide which has been modified according to the invention to electrically conductive, carbon- comprising material is in the range from 200:1 to 5:1 , preferably from 100:1 to 10:1.
• a further aspect of the present invention provides an electrode comprising at least one transition metal mixed oxide which has been produced as described above, at least one electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material and at least one binder.
• Transition metal mixed oxide and electrically conductive, carbon-comprising material have been described above.
• the present invention further provides electrochemical cells produced using at least one electrode according to the invention.
• the present invention further provides electrochemical cells comprising at least one electrode according to the invention.
• electrode material produced according to the invention comprises:
• transition metal mixed oxide in the range from 60 to 98% by weight, preferably from 70 to 96% by weight, of transition metal mixed oxide
• binder in the range from 1 to 20% by weight, preferably from 2 to 15% by weight, of binder
• the geometry of electrodes according to the invention can be chosen within wide limits.
• Electrodes according to the invention are preferably in the form of thin films, for example films having a thickness in the range from 10 ⁇ to 250 ⁇ , preferably from 20 to 130 ⁇ .
• electrodes according to the invention comprise a film or foil, for example a metal foil, in particular an aluminum foil or a polymer film, for example a polyester film, which can be untreated or siliconized.
• the present invention further provides for the use of electrode materials according to the invention or electrodes according to the invention in electrochemical cells.
• the present invention further provides a process for producing electrochemical cells using electrode material according to the invention or electrodes according to the invention.
• the present invention further provides electrochemical cells comprising at least one electrode material according to the invention or at least one electrode according to the invention.
• electrodes according to the invention by definition serve as cathodes.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention comprise a counterelectrode which, in the context of the present invention, is defined as anode and can be, for example, a carbon anode, in particular a graphite anode, a lithium anode, a silicon anode or a lithium titanate anode.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention can be, for example, batteries or accumulators.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention can comprise not only an anode and an electrode according to the invention but also further constituents, for example electrolyte salt, nonaqueous solvent, separator, power outlet leads, for example made of a metal or an alloy, also cable connections and housing.
• further constituents for example electrolyte salt, nonaqueous solvent, separator, power outlet leads, for example made of a metal or an alloy, also cable connections and housing.
• electric cells according to the invention comprise at least one nonaqueous solvent which can be liquid or solid at room temperature and is preferably selected from among polymers, cyclic or acyclic ethers, cyclic and acyclic acetals and cyclic or acyclic organic carbonates.
• polymers are, in particular, polyalkylene glycols, preferably poly-Ci-C4- alkylene glycols and in particular polyethylene glycols.
• Polyethylene glycols can here comprise up to 20 mol% of one or more Ci-C4-alkylene glycols.
• Polyalkylene glycols are preferably polyalkylene glycols having two methyl or ethyl end caps.
• the molecular weight M w of suitable polyalkylene glycols and in particular suitable polyethylene glycols can be at least 400 g/mol.
• the molecular weight M w of suitable polyalkylene glycols and in particular suitable polyethylene glycols can be up to 5 000 000 g/mol, preferably up to 2 000 000 g/mol.
• suitable acyclic ethers are, for example, diisopropyl ether, di-n-butyl ether,
• Suitable cyclic ethers are tetrahydrofuran and 1 ,4-dioxane.
• suitable acyclic acetals are, for example, dimethoxymethane, diethoxymethane, 1 ,1 -dimethoxyethane and 1 ,1 -diethoxyethane.
• Suitable cyclic acetals are 1 ,3-dioxane and in particular 1 ,3-dioxolane.
• suitable acyclic organic carbonates are dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate and diethyl carbonate.
• suitable cyclic organic carbonates are compounds of the general formulae (II) and (III)
• R 1 , R 2 and R 3 can be identical or different and are selected from among hydrogen and Ci-C4-alkyl, for example methyl, ethyl, n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, sec-butyl and tert- butyl, with R 7 and R 8 preferably not both being tert-butyl.
• R 1 is methyl and R 2 and R 3 are each hydrogen, or R 1 , R 2 and R 3 are each hydrogen.
• Another preferred cyclic organic carbonate is vinylene carbonate, formula (IV). N '
• the solvent or solvents is/are preferably used in the water-free state, i.e. with a water content in the range from 1 ppm to 0.1 % by weight, which can be determined, for example, by Karl-Fischer titration.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention further comprise at least one electrolyte salt.
• Suitable electrolyte salts are, in particular, lithium salts.
• suitable lithium salts are LiPF 6 , LiBF 4 , UCIO4, LiAsFe, UCF3SO3, LiC(CnF 2n+ iS02)3, lithium imides such as
• LiN(C n F2n+iS02)2 where n is an integer in the range from 1 to 20, LiN(S02F)2, Li2SiFe, LiSbF6, LiAICU and salts of the general formula (C n F2n+iS02)tYLi, where t is defined as follows:
• t 3, when Y is selected from among carbon and silicon.
• Preferred electrolyte salts are selected from among LiC(CFsS02)3, LiN(CFsS02)2, LiPF6, L1BF4, UCIO4, with particular preference being given to LiPF6 and LiN(CFsS02)2.
• electrochemical cells according to the invention comprise one or more separators by means of which the electrodes are mechanically separated.
• Suitable separators are polymer films, in particular porous polymer films, which are unreactive toward metallic lithium.
• Particularly suitable materials for separators are polyolefins, in particular film-forming porous polyethylene and film-forming porous polypropylene.
• Separators composed of polyolefin, in particular polyethylene or polypropylene can have a porosity in the range from 35 to 45%. Suitable pore diameters are, for example, in the range from 30 to 500 nm.
• separators can be selected from among PET nonwovens filled with inorganic particles.
• Such separators can have a porosity in the range from 40 to 55%. Suitable pore diameters are, for example, in the range from 80 to 750 nm.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention further comprise a housing which can have any shape, for example cuboidal or the shape of a cylindrical disk.
• a metal foil configured as a pouch is used as housing.
• Electrochemical cells according to the invention provide a high voltage and have a high energy density and good stability. Electrochemical cells according to the invention can be combined with one another, for example can be connected in series or connected in parallel. Connection in series is preferred.
• the present invention further provides for the use of electrochemical cells according to the invention in appliances, in particular in mobile appliances.
• mobile appliances are vehicles, for example automobiles, bicycles, aircraft or water vehicles such as boats or ships.
• Other examples of mobile appliances are those which move manually, for example computers, especially laptops, telephones or electric hand tools, for example in the building sector, especially drills, battery-powered screwdrivers or battery-powered tackers.
• the use of electrochemical cells according to the invention in appliances offers the advantage of a longer running time before recharging. If an equal running time were to be achieved using electrochemical cells having a lower energy density, a greater weight of electrochemical cells would have to be accepted.
• the proportion by mass of Ni, Co, Mn and Na was determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES).
• the proportion by mass of CO3 2" was determined by treatment with phosphoric acid and measurement of the CO2 evolved by IR spectroscopy.
• the proportion by mass of SO4 2" was determined by means of ion chromatography.
• TV was 3.7 hours.
• the suspension was filtered and the precipitate was separated off and washed with distilled water until the electrical conductivity of the washing water was 0.10 mS.
• the solid was dried overnight at 105°C in a drying oven. The solid was sieved through a sieve having a mesh opening of 50 ⁇ . This gave precipitated material (1.1 ).
• c is in each case the concentration in the material (1.1 ) and is reported in % by weight.
• Solution (a.2) An aqueous solution of transition metal salts was produced by dissolving 0.396 mol/kg of nickel sulfate and 1 .254 mol/kg of manganese(ll) sulfate in water. The total transition metal concentration of solution (a.2) was 1 .650 mol/kg.
• the material as per 1.1 was calcined at 500°C but not washed with water. The Na content was 0.5%.
• 1000 g of the material obtained as per 1.1 was heated without further additives to 120°C in a drying oven and dried at 120°C for 12 hours. This gave 990 g of comparative precursor.
• Transition metal mixed oxide 111.1 was obtained from the precursor. Transition metal mixed oxide 111.1 had a sheet structure.
• Transition metal mixed oxide III.2 was obtained from the precursor.
• Transition metal mixed oxide III.2 had a spinel structure.
• Carbon (C-1 ) Carbon black, BET surface area of 62 m 2 /g, commercially available as "Super P Li” from Timcal
• Binder (BM.1 ): Copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropene, as powder,
• Kynar Flex® 2801 from Arkema, Inc.
• transition metal mixed oxide III.2 8 g of transition metal mixed oxide III.2 according to the invention, 1 g of carbon (C-1 ) and 1 g of (BM.1 ) were mixed with 24 g of N- methylpyrrolidone (NMP) to form a paste.
• NMP N- methylpyrrolidone
• a 30 ⁇ thick aluminum foil was coated with the above-described paste (active material loading: 5-7 mg/cm 2 ). After drying at 105°C, circular pieces of the aluminum foil which had been coated in this way (diameter: 20 mm) were stamped out. Electrochemical cells were produced from the electrodes which can be obtained in this way.
• test cells After drying at 105°C, circular electrodes (diameter: 20 mm) were stamped out and used to construct test cells. A 1 mol/l solution of LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/dimethyl carbonate (1 :1 by mass) was used as electrolyte.
• the anode of the test cells comprised a lithium foil which was in contact with the cathode foil via a separator made of glass fiber paper.
• the electrochemical cells EC.2 according to the invention were cycled (charged/discharged) 100 times between 4.9 V and 3.5 V at 25°C.
• the charging and discharging currents were in each case 150 mA/g of cathode material.
• the electrochemical cells according to the invention had a discharge capacity of 135 mAh/g after 100 cycles.

Landscapes

• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Organic Chemistry (AREA)
• Inorganic Chemistry (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
• Electrochemistry (AREA)
• General Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Crystallography & Structural Chemistry (AREA)
• Nanotechnology (AREA)
• Manufacturing & Machinery (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Composite Materials (AREA)
• Condensed Matter Physics & Semiconductors (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Battery Electrode And Active Subsutance (AREA)
• Inorganic Compounds Of Heavy Metals (AREA)
• Oxygen, Ozone, And Oxides In General (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=44992804

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (22)

• 2011
  • 2011-11-24 WO PCT/IB2011/055280 patent/WO2012070011A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2011-11-24 EP EP20110190504 patent/EP2458665A3/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2011-11-24 CN CN201180056978.4A patent/CN103229337B/zh not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-11-24 JP JP2013540472A patent/JP6203053B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-11-24 KR KR1020137016440A patent/KR101890105B1/ko not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2011-11-25 TW TW100143392A patent/TW201231402A/zh unknown

Patent Citations (3)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events