Abstract: Stabilized lithium- and manganese rich manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for Li-ion batteries with structurally-integrated layered, lithiated spinel- and rock salt components are described, as are methods to synthesize them. In these methods, selected annealing temperatures and times are used to control the amount of a stabilizing lithiated spinel component, as well as the extent of disorder in the composite electrode structure to optimize electrochemical performance. The stabilized lithium- and manganese rich manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials can be structurally-integrated with other lithium-metal-oxide or lithium-metal-polyanionic components, as well.

Abstract: A composite electrode active material is described herein, which comprises two or more electrode active materials blended or structurally-integrated together, in one of the materials is a lithiated spinel selected from the group consisting of (a) a lithiated spinel of formula LiMnxNiyMzO2; wherein M comprises at least one metal cation other than manganese and nickel cations; x+y+z=1; 0<x<1.0; 0<y<1.0; 0?z?0.5; and the ratio of x:y is in the range of about 1:2 to about 2:1; and (b) a lithiated spinel of formula LiM1O2, wherein M1 comprises a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions in a ratio of Mn to Ni ions of about 2:1 to about 1:1.

Abstract: Cobalt-free lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for lithium cells and batteries, notably rechargeable Li-ion batteries, are described herein. These electrode materials have a lithiated-spinel structure with the general formula LiMnxNiyMzO2, or alternatively in lithiated-spinel notation, Li2Mn2xNi2yM2zO4, in which x+y+z=1, 0<x<1.0, 0<y<1.0, 0?z?0.5, and in which M is selected from one or more metal cations other than Mn, Ni and Co. In general, the Mn:Ni ratio in the lithiated-spinel structures described herein is less than 2:1 and greater than 1:2, preferably close to 1:1, and more preferably 1:1. Optionally, the cobalt-free lithiated spinel materials can be blended or structurally-integrated with other cathode materials that may include cobalt.

Abstract: Lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials for lithium cells and batteries, notably rechargeable Li-ion batteries, are described herein. These electrode materials are comprised of crystalline, structurally-integrated, lithium-metal-oxides of empirical formula LiM1O2 wherein M1 comprises a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions; the crystal structure of the materials comprises domains of a disordered lithiated-spinel component, a disordered layered component, and a disordered rock salt component, in which the oxygen lattice of the components is cubic-close packed. In general, the Mn:Ni ratio in the lithiated-spinel structures described herein is less than 2:1 and preferably close to 1:1, and more preferably 1:1. Optionally, the lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials can be blended or structurally-integrated with other cathode materials and structures.