Lithium Metal Oxide Coated Cathode for Battery Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current high-voltage and high-capacity lithium battery cathode active materials undergo side reactions with electrolytes, leading to performance deterioration due to the production of undesirable by-products, such as transition metals or gases, which affect battery performance.
Innovation Solution
A composite cathode active material is developed, comprising a core of lithium intercalatable oxide with a coating layer of lithium metal oxide that acts as an inactive lithium ion conductor, preventing side reactions and improving battery performance by suppressing undesirable reactions and maintaining lithium ion conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If high-voltage and high-capacity cathode active materials are used, then energy density is improved, but side reactions with electrolyte occur leading to performance deterioration
Solution Approach 1:
A coating layer comprising lithium-free oxide is applied to the surface of the cathode active material particles. This coating layer acts as an intermediary barrier between the high-voltage cathode material and the electrolyte, preventing direct contact and side reactions while allowing lithium ion transport, thereby maintaining both high energy density and battery performance reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite structure where the core is the high-voltage cathode active material (providing high energy density) and the shell is the lithium-free oxide coating layer (providing protection). This composite material approach allows the system to simultaneously achieve high energy density from the core and performance stability from the protective shell
2Quantity of substance
If high-voltage cathode active materials are used, then capacity is improved, but undesirable by-products such as transition metal and gas are generated
Solution Approach 1:
The lithium-free oxide coating layer serves as a protective intermediary that prevents direct reaction between the high-capacity cathode material and the electrolyte, thereby blocking the generation of harmful by-products like transition metal dissolution and gas evolution while maintaining high capacity
Solution Approach 2:
The coating layer transforms the potential harm of high-voltage materials reacting with electrolyte into a beneficial protective interface. The lithium-free oxide itself forms a stable surface that prevents more severe degradation reactions, converting what would be a harmful direct reaction into a controlled, protective surface layer
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 composite cathode active material enhances the charging and discharging efficiency, high-rate characteristics, and high-temperature lifespan of lithium batteries by preventing side reactions and maintaining lithium ion conductivity, thus improving overall battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
a coating layer comprising a lithium-free oxide is formed on a particle surface
Implementation Method 2
a core comprising a lithium intercalatable oxide which enables intercalation and deintercalation of lithium
Implementation Method 3
the coating layer includes a lithium metal oxide which is an inactive lithium ion conductor
Data Source
AI summary
A composite cathode active material, a method of preparing the composite cathode active material, and a cathode and a lithium battery each including the composite cathode active material. The composite cathode active material includes a core including a lithium intercalatable oxide which enables intercalation and deintercalation of lithium; and a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of the core, wherein the conductive layer includes a lithium metal oxide which is an inactive lithium ion conductor, and wherein the lithium metal oxide contains a metal which has an atomic weight of 27 Daltons or more and is selected an element of Groups 3 to 14 of the Periodic Table of the Elements.