High-Nickel Cathode Composition With Low-Cobalt Stability Coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing high-nickel lithium batteries face challenges in cost, structural stability, and electrochemical performance due to high cobalt content in raw materials and inefficient preparation processes, affecting the performance and application of positive electrode materials.
Innovation Solution
A high-nickel compound with a chemical formula Li a Ni x Co y Mn z M b O 2 ·cα·dβ, where M is a doping element, α is a first coating material, and β is a second coating material, is prepared through multiple calcination treatments, reducing cobalt content and using multiple coating processes to enhance structural stability and electrochemical performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high cobalt content is used in raw materials for preparing high-nickel compound, then the electrochemical performance is improved, but the raw material cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters by reducing cobalt content from conventional high levels to 0.01-0.1 mol ratio, while compensating with other elements (Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, or W) to maintain electrochemical performance. This parameter optimization resolves the contradiction between cost reduction and performance maintenance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite cathode material Li a Ni x Co y Mn z M b O 2 ·cα·dβ with multiple elements working synergistically. The combination of nickel (for capacity), reduced cobalt (for cost), manganese (for stability), and doping elements (for performance enhancement) forms a composite structure that achieves both cost reduction and performance retention.
2Productivity
If conventional preparation process is used for high-nickel compound, then the production efficiency is maintained, but the structural stability and electrochemical performance are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary surface treatment by coating the cathode material with aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide before battery assembly. This preliminary protective action prevents structural degradation during battery operation, improving structural stability without affecting production efficiency since the coating is applied during the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes calcination parameters (temperature, time, atmosphere) to achieve optimal crystal structure formation. By carefully controlling these parameters, the patent produces a structurally stable high-nickel compound that maintains both production efficiency and improved structural stability.
3Quantity of substance
If high nickel content is used in the compound, then the battery capacity is increased, but the structural stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality enhancement by doping specific elements (Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ta, or W) at specific sites within the crystal structure. These localized dopant atoms reinforce the structure in critical regions, allowing high nickel content (0.8-0.95 mol ratio) to be maintained while preventing structural collapse through localized strengthening.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-element composite structure Li a Ni x Co y Mn z M b O 2 ·cα·dβ where nickel provides high capacity and the combination of cobalt, manganese, and doping elements provides structural stability. This composite approach allows the material to simultaneously achieve high battery capacity and maintain structural stability under operating conditions.
4Reliability
If multiple coating processes are applied to enhance performance, then the electrochemical performance and safety are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the surface coating function into the calcination process itself. By adding aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide to the precursor mixture before calcination, the protective coating is formed in-situ during the standard heat treatment step. This merging of functions eliminates separate coating steps, reducing manufacturing complexity while achieving the desired protective effect and improved electrochemical performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs self-service by allowing the aluminum-containing compounds to automatically form the protective surface layer during calcination. The aluminum oxide or aluminum hydroxide in the precursor mixture self-organizes into a protective coating on the particle surfaces during the heat treatment process, eliminating the need for external coating equipment or additional processing steps.
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 solution reduces material costs, improves structural stability and electrochemical performance, and enhances safety and capacity, while minimizing solvent recovery, and improves the stability and capacity of the positive electrode material, thereby optimizing lithium-ion battery performance.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a lithium source, a nickel-cobalt-manganese precursor, and an M source, and performing a first calcination treatment to prepare a first main material
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
Embodiments of the present application relate to a high-nickel compound and a preparation method therefor. According to one embodiment of the present application, the high-nickel compound has a chemical general formula of LiaNixCoyMnzMbO2·cα·dβ, where 1 ≤ a ≤ 1.2, 0 < b ≤ 0.01, 0 < c ≤ 0.01, 0 < d ≤ 0.02, 0.8 ≤ x ≤ 1, 0 ≤ y < 0.12, 0 ≤ z ≤ 0.2, and x + y + z = 1; M is a doping element; α is a first coating material, and β is a second coating material. Some other embodiments of the present application further provide a method for preparing a high-nickel compound. The high-nickel compound and the preparation method therefor provided by the embodiments of the present application can effectively solve the problems encountered in the traditional technology.