Abstract: Electrode active materials with lithiated spinel character are described herein. An electrode active material having the general empirical formula Li2Ni2-x-yMnxM?yO4 (Formula I); wherein M? comprises ions of one or more metal other than Ni and Mn; 0<x?0.66; 0?y?0.25; 0<(x+y)<1; and the material has a Ni:Mn molar ratio that is greater than 2:1. Electrochemical cells and batteries comprising the materials of Formula I also are described herein.

Abstract: Substantially defect-free layered lithium nickel oxide materials of Formula (I): Li(1?x)(Ni(1?y)My)(1+x)O2 and Formula (II): LiaNibMc O2 are provided herein, wherein M is one or more metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn, Al, Mg, Ti, B, Zr, Nb, and Mo; 0?x?0.05; and 0?y?0.1, 0.97?a?1.03; 0.9?b?1; 0?c?0.1; and 0.97?(b+c)?1.03; and the material has a layered structure with no more than about 1.2 percent disorder between lithium and transition metal (TM) layers, as determined by structural refinement calculations on x-ray diffraction (XRD) data, compared to an ideal layered LiNiO2 structure. The materials can be formed by heating Ni(OH)2 or NiO with lithium hydroxide at a temperature in the range of about 650 to 680° C.

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: Stabilized layered lithium metal oxide cathode materials are described which include excess lithium, Ni, Mn, and at least one other metal ion. The materials comprise a layered LiMO2-type material in which M comprises a combination of Ni, Mn, and at least one other metal ion that includes less than about 6 mol % Co; and which has about 1 to 6 percent excess lithium. In one embodiment, the stabilized lithium metal oxide cathode material comprises a composition having the empirical formula xLi2MnO3.(1?x)LiNi0.5+?/2Mn0.5??Co?/2O2, wherein 0<x?0.1; and 0???0.2. In another embodiment, the stabilized lithium metal oxide cathode material comprises a composition having the empirical formula Li1+3y[NiaMnbM?c]1?yO2, wherein M? is one of more metal selected from the group consisting of Co, Al, Fe, Mg, and Ti; 0<y?0.02; 0.85?a?0.96; 0.03?b?0.1; and 0.01?c?0.1.

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.

Abstract: Lithium-manganese-nickel-oxide electrode materials are described herein, which are 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 optionally 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. Preferably, M1 is M2(1-w)M3w, wherein M2 is 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; M3 is one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an Al cation, a Ga cation, a Mg cation, a Ti cation; and a Co cation; and 0<w?0.5.

Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-metal-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-metal-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. The lithium metal oxide electrode material comprises a disordered rock salt structure with partial lithiated-spinel character, wherein, for example, the disordered rock salt structure comprises a formula Li2(M?2?am??a)O4, which has the crystallographic formula: [Li2?bM??b]16c [M?2?aM??1-bLib]16dO4 wherein 16c and 16d refer to the octahedral sites of the prototypic space group symmetry Fd3m; M? and M?? are metal ions; 0<a?0.5; and 0<b<0.5. These stabilized materials are useful as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component layered-layered system or a multi-component layered-layered-spinel system.

Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-metal-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-metal-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. These stabilized materials are attractive as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component ‘layered-layered’ system or a multi-component ‘layered-layered-spinel’ system, as defined by the phase diagram and compositional space of each system.

Abstract: Cation-stabilized materials and compositions are described herein, which suppress the structural and electrochemical instability of lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel and lithiated lithium-cobalt-oxide spinel electrodes for lithium batteries, notably lithium-ion batteries. These stabilized lithiated spinel materials are attractive as positive electrodes for lithium batteries in their own right or when used as a structural component to stabilize layered metal oxide electrode systems, such as a two-component ‘layered-spinel’ system or a multi-component ‘layered-spinel’ system, as defined by the phase diagram and compositional space of each system.

Abstract: An electrode material comprising a composite lithium metal oxide, which in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1?x)LiM?O2].(1?y)Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z?d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2?z?dM?zO4 component comprises a spinel structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.

Abstract: An electrode for a lithium-ion cell comprising a ‘layered-spinel’ composite oxide material is disclosed. The ‘layered-spinel’ can be a material of formula xLiMO2.(1?x)LiyM?zO4, wherein 0<x<1; LiMO2 is a lithium metal oxide having a layered structure in which M comprises one or more transition metals and optionally lithium, and has a combined average oxidation state of +3; and LiyM?zO4 is a lithium metal oxide having a spinel structure, 1?y?1.33, 1.66?z?2, and M? comprises one or more transition metals, and has a combined average metal oxidation state in the range of about +3.5 to about +4.

Abstract: An electrode material comprising a composite lithium metal oxide, which in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1?x)LiM?O2].(1?y)Li1+dMn2-z-dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z?d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2-z-d M?zO4 component comprises a spinel structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.

Abstract: A three-component, layered-layered-spinel, composite lithium metal oxide electrode material, in an initial state has the formula: y[xLi2MO3.(1-x)LiM?O2].(1-y)Li1+dMn2-z-dM?zO4; wherein 0?x?1; 0.75?y<1; 0<z?2; 0?d?0.2; and z-d?2. M comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +4; M? comprises one or more metal ions that together have an average oxidation state of +3; and M? comprises one or more metal ions that together with the Mn and any excess proportion of lithium, “d”, have a combined average oxidation state between +3.5 and +4. The Li1+dMn2-z-dM?zO4 component comprises a spinel crystal structure, each of the Li2MO3 and the LiM?O2 components comprise layered crystal structures, and at least one of M, M?, and M? comprises Co. Cells and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.

Abstract: A lithium-rich spinel metal oxide electrode material has the formula: Li1+dMn2?y?dMyO4, wherein 0<d?0.2; 0.2<y?0.6, and M comprises Ni. The electrode material provides, in many cases, improved capacity retention on cycling and superior capacity when utilized in the positive electrode of a lithium cell relative to conventional electrode materials. Positive electrodes, electrochemical cells, and batteries comprising the electrode material also are described.