Lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles and method for manufacturing same, carbon-coated lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles, carbon-coated lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticle granulated body, and lithium ion cell

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for manufacturing lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles struggle to maintain sufficient crystal orientation, leading to suboptimal capacity and output in lithium ion secondary cells.

Innovation Solution

The development of lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles with specific peak intensity ratios (I20/I29, I25/I29, I35/I29) and crystallite sizes, optimized through liquid phase synthesis and carbon coating, to enhance crystal orientation and conductivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If lithium manganese phosphate is micronized to reduce crystallite size, then ion conductivity and electron conductivity are enhanced, but the capacity cannot reach theoretical limits due to significant crystal lattice changes during charge-discharge

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveion conductivity and electron conductivityVSAvoidcapacity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by precisely controlling the crystallite size within 10-50 nm range and optimizing the crystal orientation (I20/I29 ratio between 0.88-1.05) to achieve a balance between conductivity enhancement and capacity retention. This specific parameter optimization resolves the contradiction by finding the optimal size window where lattice strain is reduced but capacity is maximized.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite structure by coating lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles with carbon material. This composite approach enhances electron conductivity at the particle surface while protecting the crystal lattice from excessive strain during charge-discharge cycles, thereby simultaneously improving both conductivity and capacity utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If lithium manganese phosphate particles are oriented in the b-axis direction to enhance Li-ion conductivity, then ion transport is improved, but the crystal orientation property is difficult to maintain after ball milling and processing

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveLi-ion conductivityVSAvoidcrystal orientation property
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by establishing strong crystal orientation during the synthesis process itself, creating particles with controlled morphology and preferred orientation before any mechanical processing. This pre-established orientation, combined with the small crystallite size, makes the structure more resistant to randomization during subsequent ball milling and electrode fabrication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the crystal structure into very fine crystallites (10-50 nm) within larger particles. This segmentation creates multiple small crystalline domains that can maintain their individual orientations even when the overall particle structure undergoes mechanical processing, thereby preserving Li-ion conductivity pathways.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If carbon coating is applied to enhance electron conductivity and reduce lattice strain, then conductivity is improved, but the manufacturing process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveelectron conductivityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the synthesis of lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles with the carbon coating process into a single integrated step. By adding carbon sources to the hydrothermal synthesis mixture, the carbon coating forms concurrently with the nanoparticle formation, eliminating separate coating steps and reducing overall manufacturing complexity while maintaining the conductivity benefits.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This approach enables lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles to exhibit highly enhanced capacity and output, approaching theoretical limits, while maintaining stable ion and electron conductivity.

Implementation Method 1

lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles having a ratio I20/I29 of the peak intensity at 20° to the peak intensity at 29° obtained by X-ray diffraction of greater than or equal to 0.88 and less than or equal to 1.05, a crystallite size determined by X-ray diffraction of greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCrystallisation: Crystallisation

Implementation Method 2

the particle surface is coated with carbon to achieve the reduction of the influence of a strain associated with the change in the crystal lattice size and the enhancement in ion conductivity and electron conductivity

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDeposition (physical): Deposition (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3279137B1Lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles and method for manufacturing same, carbon-coated lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles, carbon-coated lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticle granulated body, and lithium ion cell
Publication Date: 2025.05.21 TORAY INDUSTRIES INC
  • EP3279137B1 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present invention makes a lithium ion secondary cell exhibit high capacity when lithium manganese phosphate is used as the active material of the lithium ion secondary cell. The present invention is directed to lithium manganese phosphate nanoparticles having a ratio I20/I29 of the peak intensity at 20° to the peak intensity at 29° obtained by X-ray diffraction of greater than or equal to 0.88 and less than or equal to 1.05, and a crystallite size determined by X-ray diffraction of greater than or equal to 10 nm and less than or equal to 50 nm.