Boron-Modified LNMO Cathode Morphology for Stable High-Voltage Cycling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current lithium-ion batteries face challenges with poor safety, low energy, and low power density, which hinder their widespread acceptance in electric vehicles, despite advancements in materials like LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) that offer high energy and power density.
Innovation Solution
A boron-modified Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Oxide (LNMO) material with specific particle morphology is developed, where boron is incorporated into the grain boundaries, surface, or bulk of the LNMO material through high-temperature synthesis, enhancing its stability and electrochemical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If LNMO cathode material is used to achieve high energy and power density, then capacity fading and safety concerns occur due to electrolyte degradation and structural instability at higher cutoff voltages
Solution Approach 1:
A boron-containing coating layer is applied as an intermediary between the LNMO cathode material and the electrolyte. This coating layer acts as a protective mediator that prevents direct contact and harmful interactions, thereby reducing electrolyte degradation and structural instability while maintaining the high voltage operation capability of LNMO
Solution Approach 2:
The patent modifies the surface chemistry and morphology parameters of LNMO by incorporating boron elements during synthesis. This changes the surface properties to be more stable and less reactive with the electrolyte, thereby improving capacity retention while preserving the high energy density characteristics
2Reliability
If surface coating is applied to improve performance and reduce side reactions, then manufacturing complexity increases and coating uniformity control becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The boron-containing coating is merged with the LNMO synthesis process itself rather than being applied as a separate post-treatment step. The coating forms concurrently with the cathode material during the high-temperature synthesis, eliminating the need for separate coating equipment and processes while ensuring uniform coverage
Solution Approach 2:
The boron coating is formed preliminarily during the synthesis stage before the material is assembled into the battery. This preliminary formation ensures that the protective layer is already in place and uniformly distributed on all particle surfaces before the material undergoes subsequent processing and battery assembly
3Stability of the object's composition
If oxide coating is applied to prevent side reactions and improve structural stability, then interfacial resistance increases which hinders Li-ion mobility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter by using boron-containing compounds instead of traditional oxide coatings. This compositional change results in a coating layer with different electrical and ionic properties that maintains structural stability while allowing better Li-ion transport, thus reducing interfacial resistance
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode material becomes a composite structure with boron-containing phases distributed on the LNMO surface. This composite material combines the high voltage and capacity benefits of LNMO with the protective and conductive properties of boron compounds, achieving both structural stability and low interfacial resistance
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 boron modification significantly improves the stability, rate capability, and capacity retention of the LNMO material, making it suitable for high-performance lithium-ion batteries with enhanced safety and efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
boron is incorporated into the grain boundaries, surface, or bulk of the LNMO material through high-temperature synthesis
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention provides an LNMO particulate material that comprises crystallites, crystals and secondary particles, wherein the secondary particles are composed of a multitude of crystals, and the crystals are composed of a multitude of crystallites, wherein a D50 particle size of the secondary particles is between 3.0 µm and 25 µm, as measured by laser diffraction according to ISO 13320:2020, and wherein a D50 particle size of the crystals is between 0.3 µm and 7.0 µm as measured by scanning electron microscope (SEM), and wherein, the LNMO particulate material is boron modified. In other aspects, the invention further provides a process for the production of boron modified Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Oxide (LNMO) particulate material and a boron modified LNMO material obtainable by the process according to the present invention.