Positive Electrode Active Material with Anhydrous Lithium Firing

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing manufacturing methods for positive electrode active materials in lithium secondary batteries face challenges in improving productivity and yield due to low reactivity between the lithium raw material and the precursor, particularly when using hydrated lithium raw materials.

Innovation Solution

A method involving dry-mixing a transition metal hydroxide with an anhydrous lithium raw material, followed by primary firing, fine pulverization, and secondary firing, to produce a lithium transition metal oxide with enhanced reactivity and productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If hydrated lithium raw material (LiOH·H2O) is used, then the material is easier to handle and store, but reactivity with precursor is lowered resulting in lower yield and productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of handling and storageVSAvoidproduction yield and productivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical-chemical parameter of the lithium raw material from hydrated form (LiOH·H2O) to anhydrous form (LiOH), removing water molecules to enhance reactivity with the precursor during firing, thereby improving production yield and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary drying of the lithium raw material to remove water before the main reaction process, ensuring that the material is in optimal form for high reactivity during firing, which improves both yield and productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If hydrated lithium raw material is used, then moisture is present which may prevent quality degradation, but reactivity is lowered resulting in lower yield

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequality stabilityVSAvoidproduction yield

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the hydration state parameter of the lithium raw material from hydrated to anhydrous form, improving reactivity and production yield while maintaining quality through controlled processing conditions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Device complexity

If conventional single firing method is used, then the process is simpler, but reactivity is insufficient leading to lower productivity

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprocess simplicityVSAvoidproductivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the single firing process into two separate firing steps: first firing to initiate reaction and second firing to complete the reaction, which enhances overall reactivity and productivity while maintaining reasonable process complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The first firing serves as a preliminary action to prepare the materials for the second firing, creating intermediate products that react more efficiently in the second firing step, thereby improving overall productivity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

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 method improves the production yield and productivity of positive electrode active materials by enhancing reactivity with the precursor, preventing quality degradation due to moisture, and increasing the true density of the material, leading to uniform and excellent quality products.

Implementation Method 1

a positive electrode active material is synthesized by mixing and firing a positive electrode active material precursor and a lithium raw material and allowing an oxidation reaction between lithium and the precursor

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOxidation reaction: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a first step of dry-mixing a transition metal hydroxide and an anhydrous lithium raw material; a second step of subjecting the mixture to primarily firing; and a third step of finely pulverizing and mixing the primarily fired material and subsequently performing secondary firing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFiring: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS12244010B2Method for preparing positive electrode active material for lithium secondary battery, positive electrode comprising the positive electrode active material prepared by the same and lithium secondary battery

Publication Date: 2025.03.04 LG CHEM LTD

AI summary

Provided are a manufacturing method of a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery including: a first step of dry-mixing a transition metal hydroxide and an anhydrous lithium raw material; a second step of subjecting the mixture of the transition metal hydroxide and the anhydrous lithium raw material to primarily firing; and a third step of finely pulverizing and mixing the primarily fired material and performing secondary firing, and thus obtaining a lithium transition metal oxide, wherein, in the first step, the anhydrous lithium raw material is mixed at 40 parts by weight or less based on 100 parts by weight of the transition metal hydroxide, and a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode active material manufactured by the above-described manufacturing method, and a lithium secondary battery.