US 12,351,477 B2
Process for preparing a positive electrode material for rechargeable lithium ion batteries
Dae-Hyun Kim, Chungcheongnam-do (KR); Jens Paulsen, Chungcheongnam-do (KR); Kasper Lambrighs, Brussels (BE); Randy De Palma, Brussels (BE); and Liang Zhu, Brussels (BE)
Assigned to UMICORE, Brussels (BE)
Appl. No. 17/642,034
Filed by UMICORE, Brussels (BE)
PCT Filed Sep. 11, 2020, PCT No. PCT/EP2020/075538
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 10, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/048399, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 18, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 19197345 (EP), filed on Sep. 13, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0202865 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H01M 10/0525 (2010.01); C01G 53/50 (2025.01); C01G 53/82 (2025.01)
CPC C01G 53/50 (2013.01) [C01G 53/82 (2025.01); H01M 10/0525 (2013.01); C01P 2002/60 (2013.01); C01P 2006/40 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
 
1. A process for preparing a positive electrode material for lithium-ion batteries comprising the steps of:
step (i) heating a mixed metal compound pM comprising lithium, nickel and at least one metal selected from cobalt, manganese and aluminium or a first mixture M1 comprising A1: a mixed metal compound P1 comprising nickel and at least one metal selected from cobalt, manganese and aluminium and B1: a lithium compound L1, in a furnace from a temperature below 200° C. to a temperature Ts;
step (ii) subjecting said mixed metal compound pM or said first mixture to a heat treatment at said temperature Ts for a period of time ts of 0.3 h to 6.0 h, thereby obtaining a heat-treated mixed metal compound M; wherein said temperature Ts and said period of time ts relate according to formula: 1140+50·log10(6/ts)−580·x≤Ts≤1200, wherein x is a fraction by atom of nickel, relative to the total amount of nickel, cobalt, manganese and aluminium in said mixed metal compound pM or in said first mixture, wherein 0.30≤x≤0.99, and wherein 300° C.h≤Ts·ts<3000° C.h;
step (iii) cooling said heat-treated mixed metal compound M obtained from step (ii);
wherein a total period of time for step (i) and step (ii) is from 0.3 hours to 12.0 hours.