Precursor Particles Of Lithium Composite Transition Metal Oxide For Lithium Secondary Battery And Cathode Active Material Containing Same
Abstract:
The present invention relates to precursor particles of a lithium composite transition metal oxide for a lithium secondary battery and a cathode active material containing the same wherein the precursor particles of a lithium composite transition metal oxide are composite transition metal hydroxide particles containing two or more types of transition metals and having an average diameter of 1 µm to 8 µm and the composite transition metal hydroxide particles show a monodispersed diameter distribution and have a coefficient of variation of 0.2 0.7.
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Notices, Deadlines & Correspondence
106 201 Saemmeori 1 danji Apt.
Dunsan 2 dong
Seo gu
Daejeon 302 122
3. SHIN Ho Suk
D 401 Aromaville
7 71 Garwol dong
Yongsan gu
Seoul 140 800
4. PARK Sang Min
620 Dong a Venture Tower
Bongmyeong dong
Yuseong gu
Daejeon 305 709
5. PARK Hong Kyu
218 1604 Saemmeori Apt.
Dunsan dong
Seo gu
Daejeon 302 122
Specification
[DESCRIPTION]
PRECURSOR PARTICLES OF LITHIUM COMPOSITE TRANSITION
METAL OXIDE FOR LITHIUM SECONDARY BATTERY AND CATHODE -
ACTIVE MATERIAL INCLUDING THE SAME
[TECHNICAL FIELD]
The present invention relates to precursor particles of a lithium composite
transition metal oxide for lithium secondaiy batteries and a cathode active material
including the same and, more particularly, to precursor particles of a lithium composite
transition metal oxide for lithium secondary batteries, wherein the precursor particles
of a lithium composite transition metal oxide are composite transition metal hydroxide
particles including at least two transition metals and having an average diameter- of 1
Urn to 8 (im, wherein the composite transition metal hydroxide particles exhibit
monodisperse particle size distribution and have a coefficient of variation of 0.2 to 0.7,
and a cathode active material including the same.
[BACKGROUND ART]
A:s\|mobile:device/technology: continues to develop:and demand;therefor
continues, to "increase,: deinand for secondary batteries as energy sources is" rapidlyincreasing.
Among these secondary batteries, lithium secondary batteries, which
exhibit high energy density and voltage and have long cycle lifespan and low selfdischarge
rate, are commercially available and widely used.
Among components of lithium secondary batteries, cathode active materials
play a critical role in determining battery capacity and performance.
As cathode active materials, lithium cobalt oxides (e.g., LiCo02) having
relatively excellent physical properties, such as excellent cycle characteristics and the
like, are mainly used. However, cobalt used in LiCoCh is a rare metal and supply of
cobalt is unstable because reserves and production thereof are limited. In addition,
LiCo02 is expensive due to unstable supply of cobalt and increasing demand for
lithium secondaiy'batteries.
Under these circumstances, research on cathode active materials that can
replace LiCo02 is continuously underway and, as representative alternative materials,
lithium., composite transition metal oxides including at least two transition metals
selected from among nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), and cobalt (Co) may be used.
Such lithium composite transition metal oxides exhibit excellent
electrochemical properties through combination of high" capacity of a lithium nickel
"oxide (e.g., LiNiO?.)," thermal stability aiid low price of Mn in a lithium manganese
oxide (e.g., UMnOj) having a layered structure, and stable electrochemical properties
of l,iCo02. However, it is not easy for such lithium composite transition metal oxides
to be synthesized by simple solid-phase reaction.
Thus, such lithium composite transition metal oxides are prepared by separately
preparing a composite transition metal precursor including at least two transition
metals selected from among Ni, Mn, and Co by a sol-gel method, a hydrothermal
method, spray pyrolysis, co-precipitation, or the like, mixing the composite transition
metal precursor with a lithium precursor, and calcining the resulting mixture at high
temperature.
A composite transition metal precursor is generally prepared by coprecipitation
in consideration of cost, productivity, and the like.
Conventionally, in a case of preparation of a composite transition metal
precursor by co-precipitation, to prepare a lithium composite transition metal oxide as
a cathode active material having high discharge capacity, excellent lifespan
characteristics, excellent rate characteristics, and the like, preparation of the composite
transition metal precursor is performed focusing on optimization of particle shapes
such as spherizing or the like. In this regard, structural properties in addition to
spherizing of composite transition metal precursors are very important.
However, conventional composite transition metal precursor particles prepared
by co-precipitation exhibit wide particle size distribution, have non-uniform shape, and
contain a large amount of impurities.
In addition, conventional composite transition metal precursor particles
prepared by co-precipitation have a minimum average diameter of 6 urn to 10 u.m. -
[DISCLOSURE]
[TECHNICAL PROBLEM]
The present invention aims to address the aforementioned problems of the
related art and to achieve technical goals that have long been sought.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide composite transition
metal precursor particles having excellent and uniform size and high ciystallinity when
compared to conventional composite transition metal precursors and a lithium
transition metal oxide.
[TECHNICAL SOLUTION]
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, precursor particles of a "
lithium composite transition metal oxide for lithium secondary batteries include
composite IransitloTinetal hydroxide particles including at least two transition
metals andliaving" an average diameter of 1 um to/8~p7n, wherein tiie composite
transition metal hydroxide-particles exhibit monodispcrsc particle size distribution in
which a parameter that represents particle siVe distribution is not limited and", when (he
particle size distribution is represented as a coefficient of variation, the coefficient of
variation is in the range of 0.2 to 0.7; -The coefficient of variation is a value obtained
by dividing standard deviation by mass median diameter 050.
While conventional composite transition metal hydroxide particles prepared by
co-precipitation have a minimum average diameter of 6 urn to 10 um, the composite
transition metal hydroxide particles of the present invention may have a minimum
average diameter of 1 um to 5 um. In addition, the composite transition metal
hydroxide particles according to the present invention exhibit monodisperse particle
size distribution as compared to conventional composite transition metal hydroxide
particles having a coefficient of variation of 0.2 to 0.7.
Thus, the precursor particles of the present invention have smaller
monodisperse particle size than conventional transition metal precursor particles and
thus movement distance of lithium ions decreases during charge and discharge and,
accordingly, rate characteristics are enhanced. In addition, such enhancement effects
are more significantly exhibited in terms of low-temperature rate characteristics and,
when the precursor particles are added together with existing large precursor particles,
electrode packing density"increases".
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the precursor particles
may have an average diameter of 1 um to 5 um.
The composite transition metal hydroxide may be a compound represented by
Formula 1 below:
M(OH,.x)2- 7 (1)
wherein M is at least two selected from the "group consisting of nickel (Ni),
cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg),
boron (B), chromium (Cr), and period 2 transition metals; and 0
5 ' Nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and manganese sulfate were mixed in a molar
ratio of 0.50:0.20:0.30 to prepare a 1.5 M aqueous transition metal solution, and a
3M aqueous sodium hydroxide solution was prepared. As aqueous ammonia, an
aqueous solution in which 25 wt% of ammonium ions are dissolved was prepared.
The aqueous transition metal solution was continuously pumped into the
10 reactor using a metering pump so that residence time thereof was 1 hour. The
aqueous sodium, hydroxide solution was pumped in a rate-variable manner using a
metering pump so that pH thereof was maintained at 11.0. The aqueous ammonia
was continuously supplied in an amount of 30 mol% based on the amount of the
aqueous transition metal solution.
15 In this regard, average residence time was 1 hour. After reaching the steady
state, a nickcl-cobalt-manganese composite transition mclai precursor, which was
prepared by 20-hour-continuous reaction, was "washed several times with distilled
water and dried in a 120°C constant-temperature drying oven for 24 hours to obtain a
final nickcl-cobalt-manganese composite transition metal precursor.
-23-
_
A nickel-cobalt-manganese composite transition metal precursor was
prepared in the same manner as in Example 1,-except that the supply amounts were
changed so that the residence time was 2 hours,
. . ' . • ' .,
A nickel-cobalt-manganese composite transition metal precursor was
prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the supply amounts were
changed so that the residence time was 3 hours.
. . . . . ..
A nickel-cobalt-manganese composite transition metal precursor was
prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the supply amounts were
changed so that the residence time was 6 hours,
"'""" A nickel-cobalt-manganese composite transition metal precursor was •'•_-
prepared in the same manner as in Example ^except that a continuous stirred tank -
reactor (CSTR) was used and the aqueous ammonia was_ supplied in an amount of 50
mol%_bascd on the amount of the aqueous transition metal solution. . "
-24-
Experimental Example l>-Comparison in productivity per unit reactor
volume according to residence time _ _.:
Productivities per unit volume of the reactors used in Examples -Lto 4 and
Comparative Example 1 were compared. Results are shown in Table 1 below.
5
Example I
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Comparative Example 1
Residence time
1 hour
2 hours
3 hours
6 hours
6 hours
Productivity per volume of
reactor (g/L-hr)
55.4
27.7
18.5
9.2
6.1
Experimental Example 2>~ Analysis of amount of impurities
0.01 g of each of the prepared transition metal precursors was accurately
weighed and added to a 50 mL Corning tube, a small amount of acid was added
.dropwise thereto, andjhe resulting material was mixed by shaking. When the mixed
1 0 sample was fully .dissolved, the concentration of SO,i2" of each sample was measured
using an ion chromatograph (DX500 manufactured by Dionex). Results arc shown in
Table-2- below. -*-.
-25-
^ b j e 2>
: : - - • . . :- • • - - , • -
j Example 1
Example 'I
Example 3
Example 4
Comparative Example 1
Residence time
1 hour
2 hours
3 hours
6 hours
6 hours
Concentration of S04^ (wt%)
0.40
0.38
-0.34
0.30
0.45
Experimental Example 3>-Particle size distribution graph
FIGS. IA and IB are scanning electron microscope (SEM) images of the
transition metal precursors of Example 1 and Comparative Example. 1. FIG. 2 is a
graph showing particle size distribution of precursor particles (mass median diameter
(D50): 4.07 urn) of Example 1.
Table 3 shows D50 and coefficient of variation of each of the precursor
particles of Example 1 and the precursor particles of Comparative Example 1.
Referring to Table 3, it can be confirmed that the precursor particles of Example 1
have an average, diameter of 5 um or .less and a coefficient of variation of 0.375
(monodispersion),while the_prccursor particles of-Comparative Example -1-havc an
average diameter of "greater than 8 um and a coefficient of .variation of 0.706, which
indicates poorer monodispersion than the precursor particles of Example 1.
-26-
. ____
Example 1
Comparative Example 1
Mass median diameter
... :(D5p)_V.v\.L:
4.07 fim
9.46 urn
. ,•:•.. C.V.
"0.375
0.706
-Manufacture of coin cell and evaluation of
electrochemical characteristics thereof
Each of the prepared transition metal precursors and Li2C03were mixed in a
5 weight ratio of 1:1 and the resultant mixture was calcined at 920°C for 10 hours at a
heating rate of 5°C/min to prepare a powder-type lithium transition metal oxide as a
cathode active material. Subsequently, the powder-type cathode active material,
Denka as a conductive material, and KF 1100 as a binder were mixed in a weight
ratio of 95:2.5:2.5 to prepare a slurry and the slurry was uniformly coated on 20 urn
10 thick AI foil. Thereafter, the coated Al foil was dried at 130°C, thereby completing
manufacture of a cathode for lithium secondary batteries.
The fabricated cathode, a lithium metal foil as a counter electrode (an anode),
and a polyethylene film as a separator (Cclgard, thickness: 20 urn), and a liquid
electrolyte containing 1M LiPF6 dissolved in a mixed solvent of ethylene carbonate,
"J 5 djmcthylene carbonate, and diethyl carbonate in a volume ratio of 1:2:1 weie used to
_ -manufacture a 2032 coin cell, •:"'
-27-
Electrical properties of the cathode active materia! of each coin cell were
:
: evaluated at 3.0 to 4.25 V using an electrochemical analyzer (Toscat 3100U available
""•''•'from"Toyb Systems). Results'are shown in Table "4 below. "
Example 1
Example 2
Example 3
Example 4
Comparative
Example 1
Initial discharge
capacity (mAh/g)
168.3
167.3
166.9
166.8
165.2
Initial efficiency
(%)
89.8
89.1
89.4
89.6
87.6
2C/0.IC
(%)
88.5
87.9
87.8
87.0
85.2
5 FIG. 4 is a side view of a reactor 100 according to an embodiment of the
present invention. FIG. 5 is a view illustrating ring-shaped vortex pairs generated in
a rotating reaction space of the reactor of FIG.4 and a flow shape of a reaction fluid.
FIG. 6 is a view of a reactor 100 according to another embodiment of the present
-— invention. -- — - - --- - -
10 "" Referring to FIG.-4, the reactor 100 for preparation of a precursor of a lithium "
composite transition metal oxide for lithium secondary batteries includes a hollow
fixed cylinder 110 installed horizontally wilh respect to the ground, a rotating
-28-
cylinder 120 disposed in the hollow fixed cylinder HO, having the same rotating
shaft as that of the fixed cylinder 110, and having an outer diameter (2xr2) smaller
than an inner "diameter {2xrI)~bf the fixed cylindeFl 10" "a" rotating reaction Tpace
formed between the fixed cylinder 110 arid the rotating "cylinder 120, a plurality of
. 5 inlets 140, 141 and 142 through which a reaction fluid is introduced into the rotating
reaction space and an outlet 150 to discharge the reaction fluid, wherein the inlets
140, 141 and 142 and the outlet 150 are disposed on the fixed cylinder 110, and an
electric motor 130 provided at a side surface of the fixed cylinder 110 to generate
power for rotation of the rotating cylinder 120..
10 An effective volume of the rotating reaction space is determined by a ratio
(d/r2) of a distance d between the fixed cylinder 110 and the rotating cylinder 120 to
an outer radius r2 of the rotating cylinder 120.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, when the rotating cylinder 120 is rotated by
power generated by the electric motor 130 and thus reaches a critical Reynolds
15 number, reaction fluids such as an aqueous solution of a composite transition metal
hydroxide, aqueous ammonia, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and thejike
J ! ! 1™^^ into the rotating reaction space via the inlets "140,-141 and 142 become
unstable by centrifugal force applied towards the fixed cylinder] 10 "from the rotating
cylinder 120 and, as a _rcsult, ring-shaped vortex pairs 160 rotating_in_opposile
20 directions along a rotating shaft arc periodically arranged in the rotating reaction
-29-
space.
The length of the ring-shaped vortex pairs 160 in the direction of gravity is
almost the same as the distance d between the fixed cylinder 110 and the rotating
cylinder 120.
The outside of the rotating shaft may be sealed by a sealing member such as
an O-ring to prevent air from being sucked into a gap between the rotating shaft and
a bearing when the rotating cylinder 120 is rotated.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 6, an aqueous transition metal salt solution, aqueous
ammonia, an aqueous sodium hydroxide solution, and the like may be introduced
into the rotating reaction space via the inlet 140 and heterogeneous materials such as
a coating material may be introduced into the rotating reaction space via the inlet 141
orl42.
Referring to FIG. 6, the reactor 100 according to another embodiment of the
present invention further includes storage tanks 180 and 181 to store an aqueous
transition metal salt solution, aqueous ammonia, an aqueous sodium hydroxide
solution, "and the like and a metering pump 170 to control the amounts of reaction
fluids introduced into"lh"e rotating reaction space. - -"-
_ The aqueous Jrai^silionTiietaTsait solution may be introduced into the rotating" "
reaction space using the metering pump 170 in consideration of residence time, the
-30-
aqueous sodium hydroxide solution may be introduced into the rotating reaction
space in a rate-variable manner using the metering pump 170 so that pH thereof was
kept constant, and the "aqueous"ammonia may "be" continuously supplied using" the
metering pump 170,r "'•";-.—-••••••••-•----—
5 After reaction was completed, the prepared composite transition metal
hydroxide was obtained via the outlet 150.
To adjust reaction temperature in a process of mixing the reaction fluids in the
rotating reaction space between the fixed cylinder 110 and the rotating cylinder 120
using the vortex pairs 160, the reactor 100 may further include a heat exchanger on
10 the fixed cylinder 110. The heat exchanger may be any heat exchanger that is
commonly known in the art to which the present invention pertains.
FIG. 7 is a graph showing comparison in power consumption per unit mass
between a CSTR and the reactor according to the present invention, A 4L CSTR
operates at a rotational speed of 1200 to 1500 rpm to form a desired particle size
15 when synthesizing a precursor and, when the rotational speed is converted into
stirring power per unit mass, the corresponding^value is about-13 to 27 W/kg (see "
__ _" region A of FIG. 7). Byxontrast. a 0.5 L rca'clor'according tothe pre^cnTTnvention
enables synthesis of a precursor with a desired particle size at a rotational speed of -
600 rpm to 1400 rpm and, when the rotational speed is converted into stirring power
-31-
per unit mass, the corresponding value is 1 W/kg to 8 W/kg (see region B of FIG. 7). _
That is, the reactor according to the present invention enables synthesis of a
precursor with a desired particle size using less stirring power per unit mass than the-
CSTR. This indicates that the reactor has higher stirring efficiency than that of the •-
CSTR. :
r" - ' " - " ' .:. ..._.' _
Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been
disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various
modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, witliout departing from the
scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
[INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY]
. As described above, composite transition metal hydroxide particles according
to the present invention have a small average diameter, exliibit monodisperse particle
size distribution, and are uniform and thus exhibit excellent rate characteristics,
excellent low-temperature rate characteristics, and excellent electrode density.
In addition, the composite transition metal hydroxide "particleshaveThigh"
cryslallinity and .thus have. increasedTreacfivity"fJv\'ith a "lithium precursor and, ~
accordingly, a calcination temperature of a lithium composite transition metal oxide -
may be reduced.
[CLAIMS]
_ JClahn 1] Pi-ecursor_particles of a lithium composite transition metal oxide for
"lithium secondary batteries, wherein the precursor particles are composite transition
metal hydroxide particles comprising at least two transition metals and having an
average diameter of 1 urn to 8 um, wherein the composite transition metal hydroxide
particles exhibit monodisperse particle size distribution and have a coefficient of
variation of 0.2 to 0.7.
[Claim 2] The precursor particles according to claim I, wherein the average
diameter of the composite transition metal hydroxide particles is 1 um to 5 urn.
[Claim 31 The precursor particles according to claim 1, wherein the composite
transition metal hydroxide particles contain an impurity derived from a transition
metal salt for preparation of a composite transition metal hydroxide, wherein an
amount of the impurity is 0.4 wt% or less based on a total weight of the composite
transition metal hydroxide particles.
[Claim 4] The precursor particles according to claim 3, wherein the amount of the
impurity is 0,3 wt^joJR wt% based on the;total weight of the "composite transition
; metal hydroxide particles. •
[Claim 5] The precursor particles according to claim 3, whereinjhe .impurity is a
salt ion comprising a sulfate ion (S04
2").
[Claim 6] The precursor particles according to claim 3, wherein the transition -
metal salt is a sulfate.
[Claim 7] The precursor particles according to claim 6, wherein the'sulfate is at
least one selected from the group consisting of nickel sulfate, cobalt sulfate, and
manganese sulfate.
[Claim 8] The precursor particles according to claim 3, wherein the salt ion
comprises a nitrate ion (NO3").
[Claim 9] The precursor particles according to claim 1, wherein the composite
transition metal hydroxide is a compound represented by Formula 1 below:
M(OH!.x)2 (1)
wherein M is at least two selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni),
cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), iron (Fe); magnesium (Mg),
boron (IJ), chromium (Cr), and period 2 transition metals; and 0