Low-Cobalt Cathode Active Material for Lower Resistance Batteries
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries using lithium metal oxide particles with low or no cobalt content face issues of unstable crystal structure, leading to degraded operational reliability and electrochemical stability, along with increased resistance and high production costs.
Innovation Solution
A cathode active material layer is designed using lithium metal oxide particles with a cobalt mole fraction of 0.02 or less, adhering to Ca/Cn ≤ 6.44 µm², incorporating nickel and manganese, and optimized with specific particle sizes and conductive materials to maintain electrical conductivity and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If lithium metal oxide particles with low or no cobalt content are used, then production costs are reduced, but operational reliability and electrochemical stability are degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the lithium metal oxide particles by strictly controlling the cobalt mole fraction to be 0.02 or less while adjusting nickel and manganese content to maintain electrochemical stability. This parameter optimization allows cost reduction through minimal cobalt usage while preserving operational reliability through balanced composition design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cathode active material layer by combining lithium metal oxide particles with specific nickel, cobalt, and manganese ratios. The composite structure with controlled element distribution maintains electrochemical stability and operational reliability while reducing overall cobalt content to minimize production costs.
2Ease of manufacture
If lithium metal oxide particles with low or no cobalt content are used, then production costs are reduced, but bulk resistance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the compositional parameters of lithium metal oxide particles by limiting cobalt to 0.02 mole fraction or less while adjusting nickel and manganese content. This parameter control reduces production costs while maintaining electrical conductivity and power performance through balanced element ratios that prevent excessive bulk resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality optimization by controlling the distribution and concentration of cobalt, nickel, and manganese elements within the lithium metal oxide particles. By creating non-uniform element distribution with localized cobalt enrichment where needed and nickel-manganese dominance elsewhere, the patent maintains low bulk resistance while minimizing overall cobalt content for cost reduction.
3Ease of manufacture
If lithium metal oxide particles with low or no cobalt content are used, then production costs are reduced, but electrochemical stability is degraded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by strictly controlling cobalt mole fraction to 0.02 or less while optimizing nickel and manganese content ratios. This parameter adjustment reduces production costs while maintaining electrochemical stability through the synergistic effect of nickel and manganese that compensates for reduced cobalt content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent develops a composite lithium metal oxide material system combining nickel, cobalt, and manganese in specific ratios. The composite structure with controlled element distribution provides both cost reduction through minimal cobalt and electrochemical stability through the synergistic interaction between nickel, cobalt, and manganese phases.
Data Source
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Figure 3
AI summary
A cathode for a lithium secondary battery includes a cathode current collector, and a cathode active material layer formed on the cathode current collector. The cathode active material layer includes cathode active material particles. The cathode active material particles includes a lithium metal oxide particle containing nickel and having a mole fraction of cobalt of 0.02 or less among all elements except lithium and oxygen.