Lithium Titanium Composite Oxide Doping for Particle Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional lithium titanium composite oxide materials face limitations due to rutile titanium dioxide generation during preparation, which reduces their effective capacity and rate capability, and there is a need for improved control over primary particle sizes to enhance initial capacity and rate capability.
Innovation Solution
A method involving the mixing of lithium-containing and titanium oxide compounds with a dissimilar metal, followed by solid-state grinding, spray-drying, and calcination, to produce lithium titanium composite oxide with controlled primary particle sizes and reduced rutile titanium dioxide content, using sodium or zirconium as the dissimilar metal, and subsequent dry grinding to achieve specific particle distributions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If spinel structure lithium titanate is used as cathode or anode material, then long cycle life and stable voltage of 1.5V are achieved, but theoretical capacity is limited to 175 mAh/g
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the chemical composition parameters by doping dissimilar metals (Na, Zr) into the lithium titanate structure, transforming it from a single-component material to a doped composite material. This parameter change enables simultaneous achievement of long cycle life and higher capacity by modifying the crystal structure and electrochemical properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite material system by incorporating dissimilar metal elements (Na or Zr) into the lithium titanate matrix. This composite approach combines the structural stability of spinel lithium titanate with the capacity-enhancing effects of metal doping, achieving both long cycle life and higher theoretical capacity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional preparation methods are used for lithium titanium composite oxide, then production is simplified, but phase separation to rutile TiO2 occurs during preparation, reducing effective capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the preparation parameters by implementing a multi-step process with controlled wet grinding (0.3-0.8 μm), spray-drying, and calcination at specific temperature ranges. These parameter changes prevent phase separation to rutile TiO2 while maintaining ease of manufacture through standardized industrial processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention performs preliminary actions by conducting wet grinding and spray-drying before calcination to pre-form uniform particles with controlled morphology. This preliminary particle formation prevents phase separation during the subsequent calcination process, preserving effective capacity while using conventional equipment.
3Ease of manufacture
If primary particle sizes are not controlled during preparation, then manufacturing process is simpler, but initial capacity and rate capability are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the particle size parameters by controlling wet grinding to achieve 0.3-0.8 μm average diameter, followed by spray-drying to produce uniform primary particles. This parameter control directly enhances initial capacity and rate capability while using conventional grinding and drying equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention replaces simple mechanical grinding with a combination of wet grinding and spray-drying processes. This substitution achieves finer and more uniform particle size distribution (0.3-0.8 μm) that significantly improves initial capacity and rate capability, while remaining compatible with industrial manufacturing.
4Productivity
If dissimilar metal doping and primary particle size control are implemented, then initial capacity and rate capability are improved, but preparation process complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges multiple functions into an integrated preparation process: dissimilar metal doping, wet grinding for particle size control, spray-drying for uniform particle formation, and calcination are combined into a sequential workflow. This merging achieves improved initial capacity and rate capability while using conventional equipment and standardized processes.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention optimizes process parameters at each stage: dissimilar metal content (0.1-5.0 wt%), wet grinding particle size (0.3-0.8 μm), spray-drying conditions, and calcination temperature ranges. These parameter optimizations balance process complexity with performance improvement, achieving high initial capacity and rate capability through controlled variable adjustment.
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 method effectively suppresses rutile titanium dioxide generation, enhances initial capacity, and improves rate capability, resulting in a lithium titanium composite oxide with improved battery performance, including increased initial charge-discharge efficiency and high-rate charge-discharge characteristics.
Implementation Method 1
spray-drying the slurry of the step ii)
Implementation Method 2
calcining the spray-dried slurry
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a preparation method of a lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal, and a lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal prepared thereby, and more particularly, to a preparation method of a lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal in which sizes of primary particles are finely controlled by doping a dissimilar metal and using a spray-drying method, and a lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal prepared thereby. According to the present invention, the preparation method of a lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal, and the lithium titanium composite oxide doped with a dissimilar metal prepared thereby allow sizes of primary particles to be finely controlled as compared with conventional lithium titanium composite oxide, and inhibit rutile titanium dioxide generation, thereby providing a battery with a high initial charge-discharge efficiency and a high rate capability.