Lithium Cobalt Oxide Buffer for Spinel Battery Gas

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Nonaqueous electrolyte batteries face challenges with gas generation and high-temperature storage performance, particularly due to the oxidant action of spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide, which leads to oxidative decomposition and reduced battery life.

Innovation Solution

A nonaqueous electrolyte battery design incorporating a spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and lithium cobalt oxide as positive electrode active materials, with specific weight ratios and pore specific surface areas, along with a titanium-containing oxide as the negative electrode material, to inhibit gas generation and enhance high-temperature storage performance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide is used as positive electrode active material, then battery capacity and output are improved, but gas generation increases and high-temperature storage performance deteriorates due to oxidant action

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery outputVSAvoidgas generation
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Lithium cobalt oxide is introduced as an intermediary substance between the spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and the nonaqueous electrolyte. This intermediary material acts as a buffer to suppress the oxidant action of the spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide, thereby preventing oxidative decomposition of the electrolyte and reducing gas generation while maintaining high output capability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The positive electrode active material is designed as a composite system comprising spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and lithium cobalt oxide in specific weight ratios (0.03 ≤ B/(A+B) < 0.05). This composite material approach combines the high output advantage of spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide with the stability advantage of lithium cobalt oxide, achieving both high power and low gas generation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Quantity of substance

If spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide is used as positive electrode active material, then battery capacity is improved, but high-temperature storage performance deteriorates due to oxidative decomposition

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery capacityVSAvoidhigh-temperature storage performance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Lithium cobalt oxide serves as a protective intermediary that buffers the oxidant action of spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide at high temperatures. This prevents oxidative decomposition of the nonaqueous electrolyte during high-temperature storage, thereby maintaining battery capacity and improving high-temperature storage performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The weight ratio parameters of the composite positive electrode active material are precisely controlled (0.03 ≤ B/(A+B) < 0.05 where A is weight ratio of spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and B is weight ratio of lithium cobalt oxide). This parameter optimization ensures sufficient buffering capacity to suppress oxidation while maintaining high battery capacity, achieving both high capacity and high-temperature storage performance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If lithium cobalt oxide is added to spinel type lithium-manganese oxide to inhibit oxidant action, then high-temperature storage performance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvehigh-temperature storage performanceVSAvoidpositive electrode composition
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The composition of the positive electrode active material is optimized by controlling the weight ratio parameter B/(A+B) within a specific range (0.03 ≤ B/(A+B) < 0.05). This parameter optimization achieves the minimum effective amount of lithium cobalt oxide needed to suppress oxidant action, improving high-temperature storage performance while minimizing the increase in compositional complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

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 battery design significantly reduces gas generation and improves high-temperature storage performance, leading to enhanced life and output capabilities while preventing oxidative decomposition.

Implementation Method 1

alleviate an oxidant action of the spinel type lithium manganese oxide by the lithium cobalt oxide

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectOxidant action suppression: Oxidation

Implementation Method 2

a lithium-ion battery in which lithium ions serve to transfer charges

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectIon transfer: Ion Repulsion/Attraction

Implementation Method 3

a lithium-titanium composite oxide with a high lithium insertion and extraction potential of about 1.55 V based on a lithium electrode

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLithium insertion and extraction: Absorption (physical)

Data Source

PatentEP3522284B1Nonaqueous electrolyte battery and battery pack
Publication Date: 2023.03.01 KK TOSHIBA
  • EP3522284B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3522284B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP3522284B1 patent drawingFigure 4

AI summary

According to one embodiment, provided is a nonaqueous electrolyte battery including a positive electrode 3, a negative electrode 4, and a nonaqueous electrolyte. The positive electrode 3 includes a spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and a lithium cobalt oxide as a positive electrode active material, the spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide and the lithium cobalt oxide satisfying formula (1): 0.01 ≤ B/(A + B) &lt; 0.05. The negative electrode 4 includes a titanium-containing oxide. The nonaqueous electrolyte battery satisfies formula (2): 0.3 ≤ C/D ≤ 0.8. A is a weight ratio (wt%) of the spinel type lithium-manganese composite oxide in the positive electrode active material, B is a weight ratio (wt%) of the lithium cobalt oxide in the positive electrode active material, C is a pore specific surface area (m2/g) of the positive electrode according to mercury porosimetry, and D is a pore specific surface area (m2/g) of the negative electrode according to mercury porosimetry.