Coated Lithium-Nickel Cathode Material for Side-Reaction Suppression
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Solution Overview
Problem
Lithium secondary batteries face degradation in power and life-span properties due to side reactions between the cathode active material and the electrolyte solution.
Innovation Solution
A cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries is developed, comprising lithium-nickel metal oxide particles with a coating element, where the coating area is 25% or more, enhancing ion conductivity and suppressing side reactions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If a cathode active material is used in lithium secondary batteries, then high operational voltage and energy density are achieved, but side reactions between the cathode active material and electrolyte solution degrade power and life-span properties
Solution Approach 1:
A coating layer comprising a coating element (such as S, W, Al, Zr, Ti, Ta, Mo, Nb, P, or B) is formed on the surface of the lithium-nickel metal oxide particles. This coating layer acts as an intermediary between the cathode active material and the electrolyte solution, preventing direct contact and side reactions while allowing ion transport, thereby improving power and life-span properties without sacrificing energy density
Solution Approach 2:
The cathode active material is designed as a composite structure where lithium-nickel metal oxide particles are coated with a layer containing coating elements. This composite structure combines the high energy density characteristics of the lithium-nickel metal oxide core with the protective and ion-conductive properties of the coating layer, resolving the contradiction between energy density and reliability
2Reliability
If a coating element is added to lithium-nickel metal oxide particles to suppress side reactions, then power and life-span properties are improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The coating element is applied to the lithium-nickel metal oxide particles during the particle formation process itself, rather than as a separate post-treatment step. This preliminary action integrates the coating formation into the existing manufacturing workflow, minimizing additional process complexity while ensuring uniform coating distribution and achieving the desired power and life-span properties
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 improved cathode active material enhances the power and life-span properties of lithium secondary batteries, making them suitable for applications in electric vehicles and renewable energy systems.
Implementation Method 1
enhancing ion conductivity
Implementation Method 2
suppressing side reactions
Data Source
AI summary
A cathode active material for a lithium secondary battery includes a coating element and lithium-nickel metal oxide particles. A coating area defined as (AC/ANi)*100 1 is 25% or more. AC is an area of a region where a content of the coating element is 1.6 wt % or more based on a total weight of the lithium-nickel metal oxide particles in a quantitative map (Q-map) image obtained through a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and ANi is an area of a region where nickel is present in the Q-map image obtained through the SEM-EDS.