Abstract: A method for preparing a powderous positive electrode material comprising single crystal monolithic particles and having a general formula Li1+a((Niz(Ni1/2Mn1/2)yCox)1-k Ak)1-aO2, wherein A is a dopant, ?0.03?a?0.06, 0.05?x?0.35, 0.10?z?0.95, x+y+z=1 and k?0.05 is described. The method comprises providing a mixture comprising a Ni- and Co-bearing precursor and a Li bearing precursor, subjecting the mixture to a multiple step sintering process whereby in the final sintering step a sintered lithiated intermediate material is obtained comprising agglomerated primary particles having a primary particle size distribution with a D50 between 2.0 and 8.0 ?m, subjecting the lithiated intermediate material to a wet ball milling step to deagglomerate the agglomerated primary particles and obtain a slurry comprising deagglomerated primary particles, separating the deagglomerated primary particles from the slurry, and heat treating the deagglomerated primary particles at a temperature between 300° C. and at least 20° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery, comprising a lithium transition metal-based oxide powder, the powder comprising single crystal monolithic particles comprising Ni and Co and having a general formula Li1+a ((Niz (Ni1/2 Mn1/2)y Cox)1-kAk)1-a 02, wherein A is a dopant, ?0.02<a?0.06, 0.10?x?0.35, 0?z?0.90, x+y+z=1 and k?0.01, the particles having a cobalt concentration gradient wherein the particle surface has a higher Co content than the particle center.

Abstract: A powderous positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries, comprising crystalline lithium transition metal-based oxide particles having a general formula Li1+a ((Niz (Ni0.5Mn0.5)y Cox)1?k Ak)1?a O2, wherein A is a dopant, ?0.030?a?0.025, 0.10?x?0.40, 0.25?z?0.52, x+y+z=1 and k?0.01, wherein the crystalline powder has a crystallite size less than 33 nm as determined by the Scherrer equation based on the peak of the (104) plane obtained from the X-ray diffraction pattern using a Cu K ? radiation source, and wherein the molar ratio MR(Ni) of Ni versus the total transition metal content in a cross section of a particle is higher in the surface area than in the center area of the particle, as determined by EDS analysis.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a rechargeable battery, comprising a lithium metal oxide powder having a layered crystal structure and having the formula LixTmyHmzO6, with 3?x?4.8, 0.60?y?2.0, 0.60?z?2.0, and x+y+z=6, wherein Tm is one or more transition metals of the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr; wherein Hm is one or more metals of the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Mo and W. The lithium metal oxide powder may comprise dopants and have the formula LixTmyHmzM?mO6— ?A?, wherein A is either one or more elements of the group consisting of F, S or N; and M? is either one or more metal of the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce and Zr, with either ?>0 or m>0, ??0.05, m?0.05 and x+y+z+m=6.

Abstract: A bimodal lithium transition metal oxide based powder mixture comprising a first and a second lithium transition metal oxide based powder. The first powder comprises a material A having a layered crystal structure comprising the elements Li, a transition metal based composition M and oxygen and has a particle size distribution with a span <1.0. The second powder has a monolithic morphology and a general formula Li1+bN?1-bO2, wherein ?0.03?b?0.10, and N?=NixM?yCozEd, wherein 0.30?x?0.92, 0.05?y?0.40, 0.05?z?0.40 and 0?d?0.10, with M? being one or both of Mn or Al, and E being a dopant different from M?. The first powder has an average particle size D50 between 10 and 40 ?m. The second powder has an average particle size D50 between 2 and 4 ?m. The weight ratio of the second powder in the bimodal mixture is between 20 and 60 wt %.

Abstract: A bimodal lithium transition metal oxide based powder mixture comprises a first and a second lithium transition metal oxide based powder. The first powder comprises particles of a material A comprising the elements Li, a transition metal based composition M and oxygen. The first powder has a particle size distribution characterized by a (D90?D10)/D50<1.0. The second powder comprises a material B having single crystal particles, said particles having a general formula Li+bN??bO2, wherein ?0.03?b?0.10, and N??NixM?yCozEd, wherein 0.30?x?0.92, 0.05?y?0.40, 0.05?z?0.40 and 0?d?0.10, wherein M? is one or both of Mn or Al, and E is a dopant different from M?. The first powder has an average particle size D50 between 10 and 40 ?m. The second powder has a D50 between 2 and 4 ?m. The weight ratio of the second powder in the mixture is between 15 and 60 wt %.

Abstract: A bimodal lithium transition metal oxide based powder mixture comprises a first and a second lithium transition metal oxide based powder. The first powder comprises particles of a material A comprising the elements Li, a transition metal based composition M and oxygen. The first powder has a particle size distribution characterized by a (D90?D10)/D50?1.5. The second powder comprises a material B having single crystal particles, said particles having a general formula Li+bN??bO2, wherein ?0.03?b?0.10, and N?=NixM?yCozEd, wherein 0.30?x?0.92, 0.05?y?0.40, 0.05?z?0.40 and 0?d?0.10, wherein M? is one or both of Mn or Al, and E is a dopant different from M?. The first powder has an average particle size D50 between 10 and 40 ?m. The second powder has a D50 between 2 and 4.5 ?m. The weight ratio of the second powder in the mixture is between 15 and 60 wt %.

Abstract: A positive electrode for a rechargeable battery comprising at least 95% active cathode material with an electrode loading of at least 6 mg/cm2, and preferably at least 10 mg/cm2, and an electrode porosity of less than 2%, and preferably less than 1%. The active cathode material may comprise a bimodal composition wherein at least 70% consists of a first lithium cobalt based oxide powder having an average particle size (D50) of at least 25 ?m and a BET value <0.2 m2/g, and a second lithium transition metal oxide based powder having the formula Li1+bN1?bO2, wherein 0.10?b?0.25, and N=NixMnyCo2Ad, wherein 0.10?x?0.40, 0.30?y?0.80, 0?z?0.20 and 0?d?0.10, A being a dopant, the second powder having an average particle size (D50) of less than 10 ?m.

Abstract: A method for preparing a N(M)C-based positive electrode materials according to the present invention comprises the following steps:—Precipitation of a metal (at least Ni— and Co—, preferably comprising Mn—) bearing precursor (MBP),—Fractionation of the MBP in a first (A) fraction and at least one second (B) fraction,—Lithiation of each of the first and second fraction, wherein the A fraction is converted into a first polycrystalline lithium transition metal oxide-based powder and the B fraction(s) is(are) converted into a second lithium transition metal oxide-based powder and, and—Mixing the first and second monolithic lithium transition metal oxide-based powder to obtain the N(M)C-based positive electrode material.

Abstract: This invention discloses a lithium metal oxide powder for a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, consisting of a core and a surface layer, the core having a layered crystal structure comprising the elements Li, M and oxygen, wherein M has the formula M=(Niz(Ni1/2Mn1/2)yCox)1-kAk, with 0.15?x?0.30, 0.20?z?0.55, x+y+z=1 and 0?k?0.1, wherein A is a dopant, wherein the Li content is stoichiometrically controlled with a molar ratio 0.95?Li:M?1.10; and wherein the surface layer comprises the elements Li, M? and oxygen, wherein M? has the formula M?=(Niz?(Ni1/2Mn1/2)y?Cox?)1-k?Ak?, with x?+y?+z?=1 and 0?k??0.1, and wherein y?/(y?+2z?)?1.1*[y/(y+2z)]. The surface layer may also comprise at least 3 mol % Al, the Al content in the surface layer 10 being determined by XPS.

Abstract: A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery comprises a lithium transition metal-based oxide powder, the powder comprising single crystal monolithic particles comprising Ni and Co and having a general formula Li1+a (Niz Mny Cox Zrq Ak)1?a O2, wherein A is a dopant, ?0.025?a<0.005, 0.60?z?0.95, y?0.20, 0.05?x?0.20, k?0.20, 0?q?0.10, and x+y+z+k+q=1. The particles have a cobalt concentration gradient wherein the particle surface has a higher Co content than the particle center.

Abstract: A lithium secondary cell having an operating voltage ?4.35V, comprising a cathode comprising a doped LiCoO2 active material, an anode comprising graphite, and an electrolyte comprising a carbonate-based solvent, a lithium salt and both a succinonitrile (SN) and a lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) additive wherein during the discharge at 45° C. from a state of charge (SOC) of 100% at 4.5V to a SOC of 0 at 3V at a C/10 rate the difference of the SOC at 4.42V and 4.35V is at least 7% but less than 14%, and wherein the active material is doped by at least 0.5 mole % of either one or more of Mn, Mg and Ti.

Abstract: A lithium secondary cell having an operating voltage ?4.35 sV, comprising a cathode comprising a doped L1CoO2 active material, an anode comprising graphite, and an electrolyte comprising a carbonate-based solvent, a lithium salt and both a succinonitrile (SN) and a lithium bis(oxalato)borate (LiBOB) additive wherein during the discharge at 45° C. from a state of charge (SOC) of 100% at 4.5V to a SOC of 0 at 3V at a C/10 rate the difference of the SOC at 4.42V and 4.35V is at least 7% but less than 14%, and wherein the active material is doped by at least 0.5 mole % of either one or more of Mn, Mg and Ti.

Abstract: A crystalline precursor compound is described for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li1?a ((Niz(Ni1/2 Mn1/2)y Cox)1?k Ak)1+a O2, wherein x+y+z=1, 0.1?x?0.4, 0.25?z?0.55, A is a dopant, 0?k?0.1, and 0.04?a?0.50, wherein the precursor has a crystalline size L expressed in nm, with 77?(67*z)?L?97?(67*z). Also a method is described for manufacturing a positive electrode material having a general formula Li1?a? ((Niz (Ni1/2 Mn1/2)y Cox)1?k Ak)1?a? O2, wherein x+y+z=1, 0.1?x?0.4, 0.25?z?0.55, A is a dopant, 0?k?0.1, and 0.01?a??0.10 by sintering the crystalline precursor compound in an oxidizing atmosphere at a temperature T between 800 and 1000° C., for a time t between 6 and 36 hrs.

Abstract: A crystalline precursor compound is described for manufacturing a lithium transition metal based oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, the precursor having a general formula Li1?a((Niz(Ni1/4 Mn1/4)y M?x)1?kAk)1+aO2, wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x?0.2, 0.55<z?0.90, M? is either one or both of Co and Al, A is a dopant, 0?k?0.1, and 0.05?a?0.40, wherein the precursor an integrated intensity ratio I003/I104<1, wherein I003 and I104 are the peak intensities of the Bragg peaks (003) and (104) of the XRD pattern of the crystalline precursor compound. Also a method is described for manufacturing a positive electrode material having a general formula Li1?aM1?a?O2, with M=(Niz(Ni1/2 Mn1/2)y M?x)1?k Ak), wherein x+y+z=1, 0<x?0.2, 0.55<z?0.90, M? is either one or both of Co and Al, A is a dopant, 0?k?0.1 and 0.01<a?<0.10 by sintering the crystalline precursor compound in an oxidizing CO2-free atmosphere at a temperature T between 750 and 950° C.

Abstract: The invention provides a dual component lithium-rich layered oxide positive electrode material for a secondary battery, the material consisting of a single-phase lithium metal oxide with space group R-3m and having the general formula Li1+bN1?bO2, wherein 0.155?b?0.25 and N=NixMnyCOzZrcAd, with 0.10?x?0.40, 0.30?y?0.80, 0<z?0.20, 0.005?c?0.03, and 0?d?0.10, and wherein x+y+z+c+d=1, with A being a dopant comprising at least one element, and the material further consisting of a Li2ZrO3 component.

Abstract: This invention relates to an industrial process of manufacturing hydroxide precursor for lithium transition metal oxide used in secondary lithium ion batteries. More particularly, this process utilizes highly concentrated nitrate salts and is designed to mitigate waste production.

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.

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.

Abstract: A cobalt based hydroxide carbonate precursor compound of a lithium cobalt based oxide, which is usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries is described. The compound comprises a doped malachite-rosasite mineral structure and has a general formula [Co1-aAa]2(OH)2CO3, wherein A is one or more of Ni, Mn, Al, Ti, Zr and Mg, with a?0.05.