Beta-Delithiated Layered Nickel Oxide Cathode for Gas-Stable Capacity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional batteries face challenges in achieving higher performance due to limitations in electrochemically active material loading within fixed battery sizes, leading to issues such as reduced capacity, instability, and structural problems like gas evolution and cathode swelling, especially when using high oxidation state transition metal oxides as cathode materials.
Innovation Solution
The use of beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide as an electrochemically active cathode material, which has a specific X-ray diffraction pattern and chemical composition, is introduced to enhance battery performance by reducing gas evolution, improving stability, and maintaining structural integrity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high oxidation state transition metal oxide is used as cathode material to increase capacity, then battery capacity and service life are improved, but gas evolution and structural issues occur
Solution Approach 1:
A coating layer comprising at least one of a metal oxide, metal hydroxide, metal oxyhydroxide, or metal carbonate is applied to the cathode material. This coating acts as an intermediary barrier between the high oxidation state transition metal oxide and the electrolyte, preventing direct harmful interactions that cause gas evolution while allowing electrochemical reactions to proceed. The coating layer specifically suppresses oxygen evolution and prevents detrimental reactions with battery components.
Solution Approach 2:
The oxidation state of the transition metal oxide is controlled to be +3 or higher (such as Ni³⁺, Ni⁴⁺, Co³⁺, Co⁴⁺, Mn⁴⁺), and the coating material parameters are selected from specific metal oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides, or carbonates. By changing these material parameters and their combinations, the system achieves high capacity while controlling gas evolution through the protective coating.
2Productivity
If high oxidation state transition metal oxide is used to increase capacity, then battery performance is improved, but cathode swelling and electrolyte consumption occur
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer serves as a protective intermediary that reduces direct contact between the high oxidation state cathode material and the electrolyte. This prevents excessive electrolyte consumption through unwanted side reactions while maintaining the electrochemical performance benefits of high oxidation state materials.
Solution Approach 2:
By selecting specific coating materials (metal oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides, or carbonates) and controlling their thickness and composition, the system optimizes electrolyte retention while preserving battery performance. The coating parameters are tuned to allow necessary ionic transport while blocking harmful electrolyte consumption reactions.
3Productivity
If high oxidation state transition metal oxide is used to increase capacity, then battery performance is improved, but battery stability and self-discharge rate worsen during storage
Solution Approach 1:
The coating layer acts as a stable intermediary barrier that prevents direct interaction between the high oxidation state cathode material and the electrolyte during storage. This significantly reduces self-discharge reactions and improves storage stability while allowing the high-performance cathode material to be used during active operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The coating material composition and thickness parameters are optimized to provide long-term stability during storage. The coating prevents degradation reactions that would otherwise occur with high oxidation state materials, maintaining battery reliability over extended storage periods while preserving performance characteristics.
4Productivity
If electrochemically active material loading is increased to improve performance, then battery capacity is improved, but internal volume constraints are violated
Solution Approach 1:
A thin coating layer is applied to the cathode material particles. This thin film provides protective functions (preventing gas evolution, stabilizing structure, reducing electrolyte consumption) without adding significant volume. The coating enables higher active material loading within fixed battery dimensions by preventing volume-increasing side reactions like gas evolution and cathode swelling.
Solution Approach 2:
By controlling the coating thickness and density parameters, the system maximizes the amount of electrochemically active material that can be packed into the fixed battery volume. The coating prevents volumetric expansion from gas evolution and structural degradation, allowing higher loading of active material within the constrained internal volume.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide cathode material provides improved discharge performance, lower gas evolution, and greater cathode structural integrity, resulting in more stable and efficient battery operation compared to high-oxidation state transition metal oxide-based batteries.
Implementation Method 1
The cathode contains an electrochemically active cathode material that can be reduced. The electrochemically active anode material is capable of reducing the electrochemically active cathode material.
Implementation Method 2
The anode contains an electrochemically active anode material that can be oxidized.
Implementation Method 3
The electrolyte contains ions that flow through the separator between the anode and cathode to maintain charge balance throughout the battery during discharge.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed towards an electrochemically active cathode material. The electrochemically active cathode includes beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide and an electrochemically active cathode material selected from the group consisting of manganese oxide, manganese dioxide, electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD), chemical manganese dioxide (CMD), high power electrolytic manganese dioxide (HP EMD), lambda manganese dioxide, gamma manganese dioxide, beta manganese dioxide, and mixtures thereof. The beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has an X-ray diffraction pattern. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide includes a first peak from about 14.9°2θ to about 16.0°2θ; a second peak from about 21.3°2θ to about 22.7°2θ; a third peak from about 37.1°2θ to about 37.4°2θ; a fourth peak from about 43.2°2θ to about 44.0°2θ; a fifth peak from about 59.6°2θ to about 60.6°2θ; and a sixth peak from about 65.4°2θ to about 65.9°2θ.