Specification
CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL FOR LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTE~IES
SURFACE-TREATED WITH RLUORINE COPOLYMER AND METHOD OR
MANUFACTURING THE SAME
The present invention relates to a cathode active material, which may be
repeatedly charged and discharged, for litliinn~ secondary batteries and a method of
manufacturing the satne.
10 In line with development of information techt~ology (IT), various portable
it~formationa nd communication devices have entered widespread use and thus the 21S'
ceritury is developing into a "ubiquitous society" where high quality i~ifor~~iatioo
services are available regnrdless of time and place. L,itliium secondary batteries play a
key role in such develop~nent towards the ubiquitous society. Lithium seco~~dary
15 batteries have higher operating voltage and energy density, are used for a longer period
of time than other secondary batteries and thus can satisfy sophisticated requirements
according to diversification and increasing complexity of devices. Recently, attempts to
improve existing lithium secondary battery teclu~ology are actively underway around
tlie world such that the existing lithium secondary batteries can be applied to ecofriendly
hydrogen systems snch as electric vehicles and tlie like, power storage systems,
and the like.
Korean Application Pub. No. 10-2005-0114516 discloses a cathode active
5 material for litliom secondary batteries including a lithium-containing co~npositeo xide,
a surface of which is coated with heterogeneous metal oxides.
Korean Patent No. 10-0479900 discloses a lithium-containing transition metal
oxide having a spinel structure, in which solne manganese (Mn) is substituted with at
least one metal element selected from the group consisting of Ni, Co, Fe, Cr and Cu,
10 and at least one metal elenlent selected from the group consisting of silicon (Si) and
titanium (Ti).
[TECHNICAL PROBLEM]
The present invention aims to provide a cathode active material for lithium
15 secondary batteries having a novel structure different from tlie cathode active material
introduced in Korean Application Pub. No. 10-2005-0114516 by treating surfaces of
lithium-containing rneta1,oxide particles with a fluorine copolymer.
In addition, inventors of the present application confirlned that the con~pou~id
introduced in Korean Patent No. 10-0479900, wherein some iiianganese of a litliiomcotitailling
manganese oxide having a spinel strtictt~rcw as substituted with nietal such
as nickel and the like, has a high operating potential and , as such, an eelctmlytic
5 solution is deco~nposed even in a nornial operating range of a battery and battery
performance is deteriorated due to side reaction with an electrolytic solution. In
addition, elution of Mn ions was co~rfirnietl. Such problems were not observed ill
I,iMn204 having an operating voltage of around 4 V. To address tlie above problems, in
tlie present invention, a surface of a lithium-containing metal oxide having a spinel
10 structure is treated with a fluorine copolymer.
A cathode active tilaterial for litliimn secondary batteries according to nonlilnititig
embodiments of tlie present invention includes litliiuni-containiag metal oxide
particles; a first surface treatment layer foniied on the surfaces of litliium-containing
15 metal oxide particles, and including at least one corilpountl selected from tlie group
consisting of fluorine-doped cnetal oxides and fluori~~e-dopendie tal hydroxides; and a
second surface treatment layer formed on a surface of the first surface treatment layer
and includirig a fluorine copolymer.
The catliode active material according to the present invention ir~cludesa first
surface treatment layer and a second surface treatment layer, each of fvl~iclin~c ludes
fluorine, and, in particulal; may increase the concentration of litl~iuito~n~s in a cathode
active ~naterial surface by electrochemical reaction of a fluorine copolymer (-CF)
5 mainly existing in the second surface treatment layer ant1 thereby movetncnt of lithium
ions occurring during charge and discharge on a surface of a lithium-containing metal
oxide may be more easily perfor~ned. As a result, side reaction of a cathode active
material surface and an electrolytic solution, and elution of manganese, at high voltage,
may be suppressed and thereby a high voltage lithium secondary battery may be
10 provided.
The first surface treatnxent layer may entirely cover the surfaces of lithiumcontaining
metal oxide particles, and the second surface treatment layer xilay partially or
entirely cover a surface of the first surface treatment layer. In addition, w11e11 the first
sorface treatment layer partially covers a surface of the lithium-containing metal oxide,
15 the second surface treatnlent layer may pattially cover a surface of the lithituncontaining
metal oxide and may partially or entirely cover a surface of the first surface
treatment layer.
According to non-limiting embodiments of the present invention, the catliode
active material may be prepared by mixing the lithiut~~-co~itainmire~tagl oxide particles
20 with the fluorine copolymer in an amount of 0.05 wt% or more and less than 5.00 wt%
-4-
based on tlie total weight of the catl~ode active material, and heat-treating in the
atmospliere. In this case, the flnorinc-doped il~etal oxide may be a fluorine-doped
lithium-containing metal oxide wherein some oxygen of tlie lithium-containing nletal
oxide is substituted with fluorine. The amount of the fluorine copolymer may be
5 particularly 0.05 wl% or inore and 3 wt% or less, more particularly 0.10 wt% or niore
and less than 1.00 wt%, even more paiticularly 0.20 wt% or more and less than 1.00
w*, based on the total weight of the cathode active material.
Referring to a specific experimental exaniple of the present invention, it can
be confirmed that, when the amount of the fluorine copolymer is less than 0.05 wt%,
10 desisetl effects are not exhibited, and, wllen the amount of the fluorine copolylner is
5.00 wt% or niore, initial discharge capacity and high-temperature lifespan
characteristics at 45OC are reduced ant1 self discharge increases due to gas generated
doring high-temperature storage of 45°C.
Therefore, the cathode active material accorcling to the present invention has
15 critical effects when the amonnt of the fluorine copoly~neris 0.05 wt% or more and less
than 5.00 wt% based on the total weight of the cathode active material.
The fluorine-doped metal oxide may exist on tlie surfaces of lithiumcontaining
nietal oxide particles in a particle for~n.I n addition, the fluorine copoly~ner
may exist in a surface of the first surface treatment layer in a particle form (See SEM
images of FIGS. 1 and 2). In tliis case, an average particle diameter (D50) of the
fluorine-doped litlliurn-containing metal oxide particle may be within an average
thickness range of the first surface treatment layer and an average particle diameter
(D50) of the fluorine copolytner pai-ticles may bc within an average tl~icknessr ange of
5 the second surface treatnieni layer.
In particular, each of average particle dianietcrs (D50) of the fluorine-doped
metal oxide particles and the fluorine-doped metal hydroxide particles may be, for
example, 1 tim or more and less than 1500 nm, particularly, 10 nm or inore and 1000
run 01. less within the range described above. W11en each of the average particle
10 diameters (D50) of the fluorine-doped inetal oxide particles and the fluorine-doped
metal hydroxide particles is less than 1 11111, tlie particles may be disadvantageously
coagulated in excessively small sizes. On the other hand, when each of the average
particle diarnelers (D50) of the fluorine-doped ~iletalo xide particles and the floorinedoped
metal hydroxide particles is 1500 nm or more, efficiency of a preparation process
15 may be disadvantageously reduced.
In non-limiting embodiments of tlie present invention, the cathode active
material nlay be prepared by mixing the lithium-containing metal oxide particles wit11
0.05 wt% to 2.00 wt% of a metal oxide, a metal hydroxide or a mixture thereof based 011
the total weight of the cathode active material, and 0.05 wi% or more and less than 5.00
wt% of a fluorine copolymer based on the total weight of the cathode active material,
and heat-treating in the atmosphere.
In this case, in the fluorine-doped metal oxide, some oxygen of a11 oxide of a
metal selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Ti, Cr, Mo, Bi, Zn, Zr, Ru
5 a d W may be substituted with fluorine, and in the fluorine-doped metal hydroxide,
some hydroxyl groups of an hydroxide of one metal selected from the group consisting
of Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Ti, Cr, Mo, Bi, ZII, Zr, I
Initial charae and discharge characteristics
Charge atid discharge characteristics of a coin battery manufactured according
to each of Examples 1 to 6 and Comparative Examples 1 to 3 were estimated by
5 charging and discharging once at a current of 0.1 C in a voltage range of 3.5 to 4.9 V.
Results are summarized in Table 1 below.
Comparative
Example 2
Con~parative
Example 3
149.6
142.5
127.5
129.4
85.2
90.8
As sl~own in Table 1, it can be confirn~ed that the batteries manofacture(i
according to Examples 1 to 6 of the present invention exhibit relatively improved initial
charge and discharge efficiency, when compared to the batteries manl~factured
according to Comparative Examples 2 and 3, and the battery mant~factured according
5 to Comparative Example 1 exhibits relatively high initial cl~arge/discl~argeeff iciency
but low initial ctlarge capacity. Tile cathode active material ma~lufactured according to
each of Exanlples 1 to 6 of the present itlventioil has a first sl~rfacetr eatme111 layer and a
second surface treatment layer \vllich include fluorine, and, in particular, the flnorine
copoly~ner mainly existing in the second surface treatment layer increases a
10 concentration of litl~iumio ns by electrocl~e~nicraela ction, and, accordingly, lithium ion
migrations on a surface of the lithium-containir~gm etal oxide occurring during charge
and discharge may be more easily preformed.
Nigh-temperature lifespan characteristics
15 Lifespan characteristics of the coin battery manufactured according to each of
Exarnples 1 to 6 and Corllparative Exarllples 1 to 2 were evaluated by charging and
discharging 200 times at a current of 1.0 C at 4S°C. Results are sunllnarized in Table 2
below.
High-temperature lifespan characteristics
200"'/lS' discharge capacity (%)
L
Example 2
I
Example 1 88.7
Exarilple 3 91.2
I
Example 4
I
I
Coniparative Example 1 ---I
92.6
Example 5
I
92.4
Example 6
As shown in Table 2, it can be confirilled that the battery manufactured
90.2
I
according to each of Example 1 to 6 of the present invention exhibits relatively superior
Conlparative Example 2
lifespan characteristics at high-tenlperature , when compared to the batteries
85.4
manufactured according to Comparative ~ x a t n ~ l1e asn d 2. The cathode active material
5 of the battery manufactured according to each of Examples 1 to 6 of the prescnt
invention has a predetermined surface-treatment layer including fluorine and, as such,
side reaction of a cathode active material surface and an electrolyte, and elution of
manganese, at high voltage, may be suppressed.
Self discharge amount I Gas generation amount
Example 1
Examnple 2
Example 4
Exatilple 5
Example 6
Comparative Example 1
Cotilparative Example 2
As shown in Table 2, it can be confirn~ed that the battery manufachired
according to each of Examples 1 to 6 of the present invention exhibits relatively low
self discharge amount and gas generation amount, when co~npared to the batteries
10 nianufactured according to Cot~~parativEex amples 1 and 2. The cathode active material
of the battery manufactured according to each of Examples 1 to 6 of the present
invention has a predetern~ined surface treatment layer including fluorine and, side
reaction of a cathode active ~naterial surface and an electrolyte, and elution of
manganese, at high voltage, may be su~ppressed.
Those skilled in tlie art will appreciate that various modifications, additions
5 and substitutions are possible, without departing fiom the scope and spirit of the
invention as disclosed in the accompanying clairns.
[INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]
As described above, in the present invention, a cathotle active material for
lithium secondary batteries is surface-treated with a fluorine copolynler and thereby a
10 cathode active material, which has a novel structure, including a first surface treatment
layer having a inetal oxide layer doped with fluorine and/or a metal hydroxide layer
doped with fluorine, and a secorltl surface treatment layer including a fluorine
copolyn~eris provided, and, accordingly, lithiu~nio n movement on a lithium-containing
rnetal oxide surface during charge and discharge may be facilitated.
15 In particular, it can be confirmed that, when the amount of the fluorine
copolymer is less than 5 wt% based on the total weight of the cathode active material,
initial charge and discharge characteristics, high-temperature lifespan characteristics
and high-temperatore storage cl~aracteristicsm ay be improved.
In addition, a lithium-containing tra~~sitiomne tal oxide accordi~~tog Formula
1 having a spi~lels t~vcturem ay suppress side reaction of a cathode active material
surface and an electrolyte, and elution of manganese, at high tenlperature, wl~en
compared to a compound in which some manganese is substituted with a nletal element
5 such as Ni or the like, and, as such, a high voltage lithiutn secondary battery may be
provided.
[CLAIMS]
[Claim 11 A cathode active material for lithium secondary batteries comprising:
lithium-containing tnetal oxide particles;
a first surface treatment layer formed on the surfaces of the lithium-containing
5 metal oxide particles and con~prising at least one conlponnd selected from the group
coi~sistingo f fluorine-doped nietal oxides and fluorine-doped metal llydroxides; and
a second surface treatment layer formed on a surface of the first surface
treatment layer and colllprising a flrlorille copoly~i~er.
[Claim 21 The cathode active material accorcling to claim 1, wherein the fluorine-
10 doped metal oxide is a floorit~e-doped Lithiumn-containing metal oxide generated by
substituting some oxygen of the lithiutn-containil~gm etal oxide with fluoritie.
[Claim 31 ?he cathode active material according to claim 1, wherein the fluorinedoped
tnetal oxide is generated by srlbstituti~tiags ome oxygen of an oxide of one metal
selected from the group cot~sistil~ogf Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Ti, Cr, Ma, Bi, Zn, Zr, RII and W
15 with fluorine.
[Claim 41 The cathode active material according to claim 3, wherein the ariiount of
the fluorine-doped metal oxide is 0.05 wt% or more and less than 2.00 wt% based on
the total weight of the cathode active material.
-29-
[Claim 51 Tlle cathode active material according to clairll 1, wherein tlie fluorinedoped
metal hydroxide is generated by substitnting some llydroxyl groups of an
hydroxide of one metal selected fiom the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ni, Co, Ti, Cr,
Mo, Bi, Zn, Zr, Ru and W wit11 fluorine.
5 [Claim 61 The cathode active material according to claim 5, wherein the amount of
the fluorine-doped metal ltydroxide is 0.05 \vt% or more and less than 2.00 wt% based
on the total weight of tlie cathode active material.
[Claim 71 The cathode active material according to claim 1, wherein the fluorine
copoly~ner is at least one selected from the group consisting of polyvinylfluoride,
10 polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polychlorotrifluoroethylene,
perfluoroalkoxy polymer, fluorinated ethylene-propylene,
polyethylenetetrafl~~oroethylene, polyethyle~~echlorotrifluoroethylene,
perfluoroelaston~er, fluorocarbon, perfluoropolyether, and perfloorosulfonic acid.
[Claim 81 The cathode active material according to claim 1, wherein t 1x3
15 lithium-containing metal oxide is a lithium transition metal oxide having a layered
stl~~ctuorre having a spinel structure.
[Claim 91 The cathode active material according to claitn 8, wlierein tlie litlliun~
transition metal oxide having the spinel structure has a cotnposition represented by
Fonnula 1 below:
wherein M is at least one selected fro111 the group consistittg of Ni, Ti, Co, Al,
Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Zn and Period 5 tra~lsitiot~l netals; and
- 0 . l S 0 . 1 and 0.3x50.8.
The cathode active material according to clai111 9, wl~erein the lithium
transition metal oxide having the sl>inel structure has a composition represented by
Fonnula 2 below:
10 wherein M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Co, Al, Cu,
Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Zti and Period 5 transition metals; and
[Claim 11 1 'rile cathode active material according to claim 1, wherein the first surface
treatment layer entirely covers a surface of the lithium-containing metal oxide and the
15 second surface treatment layer entircly covers a surface of the first surface treatment
layer.
[Claim 121 The cathode active material according to clairn 1, wherein the first surface
treatment layer partially covers a surface of the lithium-containing metal oxide, and the
second surface treatment layer partially covers a surface of the lithium-containing metal
oxide and entirely covers a surface of the first surface treatment layer.
5 [Claim 131 The cathode active material according to claim 1, wherein the fluorinedoped
metal oxide and the fluorine-doped metal hydroxide exist on a surface of the
lithiuln-containing metal oxide in a particle fonn.
[Claim 141 The cathode active material according to claiul 13, wherein an average
particle diameter of each of the fluorine-doped nletal oxide and the fluorine-doped tnetal
10 hydroxide particles is 1 Inn or Illore to 1800 mn.
[Claim 151 The cathode active material according to claiin 1, wherein the fluorine
copolymer exist in a surface of the first surface treatment layer it1 a particle fonn.
[Claim 161 A cathode for lithium secondary batteries, wherein an electrode mixture
layer conprising the cathode active material according to claim 1, a conductive material
15 and a binder is coated on a current collector.
[Claitn 171 A lithium secondary battery conlprising the cathode according to clailu
16.
[Clainl 181 h battery pack comprising the lithium secondary battery according to
[Claim 191 An electric vehicle using the battery pack according to claim 18 as a
power source.
S [Clainr 201 A method of preparing the cathode activc material according to claim 1,
\vl~ereint he litldum-co~ltai~liurngc tal oxicle particles are nlixecl wit21 0.05 wt% or Inore
and less than 5.00 wt% of thc fluorine copolymer based on the total weight of the
cathode active inaterial and heat-treated in the atmosphere.
[Claim 211 The method according to claim 20, wherein 0.05 wt% to 2.00 wt% of
10 nletal oxide, metal liydroxide, or a mixture thereof \\'as fi~rthenr lixed based on the total
weight of the cathode active nlnterial and heat-treated io the atmosphere.