The present disclosure relates to cathode composite materials and lithium ion batteries using the same.
With the rapid development and generalization of portable electronic products, there is an increasing need for lithium ion batteries due to their excellent performance and characteristics such as high energy density, long cyclic life, no memory effect, and light pollution when compared with conventional rechargeable batteries. However, the explosion of lithium ion batteries for mobile phones and laptops has occurred often in recent years, which has aroused public attention to the safety of the lithium ion batteries. The lithium ion batteries could release a large amount of heat if overcharged/discharged, short-circuited, or experiencing large current for long periods time, which could cause burning or explosion due to runaway heat. Stricter safety standards are required in some applications such as electric vehicles.
Implementations are described by way of example only with reference to the attached figures.
A detailed description with the above drawings is made to further illustrate the present disclosure.
In one embodiment, a cathode composite material is provided. The cathode composite material comprises a cathode active material and a maleimide type monomer composited with the cathode active material. The cathode active material can be a lithium transition metal oxide. The maleimide type monomer can be mixed uniformly with the cathode active material, or coated on a surface of the cathode active material. A mass percent of the maleimide type monomer in the cathode composite material can be about 0.01% to about 10%, such as about 1% to about 5%, or about 3%.
The maleimide type monomer can comprise at least one of a maleimide monomer, a bismaleimide monomer, a multimaleimide monomer, and a maleimide type derivative monomer.
The maleimide monomer can be represented by formula I:
wherein R1 can be —R, —RNH2R, —C(O)CH3, —CH2OCH3, —CH2S(O)CH3, —C6H5, —C6H4C6H5, —CH2(C6H4)CH3, alicyclic group, silylated aromatic group, or aromatic halide. R can be an alkyl group with 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
The maleimide monomer can be selected from N-phenyl-maleimide, N-(p-methyl-phenyl)-maleimide, N-(m-methyl-phenyl)-maleimide, N-(o-methyl-phenyl)-maleimide, N-cyclohexane-maleimide, maleimide, maleimide-phenol, maleimide-benzocyclobutene, di-methylphenyl-maleimide, N-methyl-maleimide, ethenyl-maleimide, thio-maleimide, keto-maleimide, methylene-maleimide, maleimide-methyl-ether, maleimide-ethanediol, 4-maleimide-phenyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.
The bismaleimide monomer can be represented by formula II:
wherein R2 can be —R—, —RNH2R—, —C(O)CH2—, —CH2OCH2—, —C(O)—, —O—, —O—O—, —S—, —S—S—, —S(O)—, —CH2S(O)CH2—, —(O)S(O)—, —CH2(C6H4)CH2—, —CH2(C6H4)(O)—, phenylene (—C6H4—), diphenylene (—C6H4C6H4—), substituted phenylene, substituted diphenylene, silylated aromatic group, aromatic halide, or —(C6H4)—R5—(C6H4)—, wherein R5 can be —CH2, —C(O)—, —C(CH3)2—, —O—, —O—O—, —S—, —S—S—, —S(O)—, or —(O)S(O)—. R can be an alkyl with 1 to 6 carbon atoms.
The bismaleimide monomer can be selected from N,N′-bismaleimide-4,4′-diphenyl-methane, 1,1′-(methylene-di-4,1-phenylene)-bismaleimide, N,N′-(1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-dimethylene)-bismaleimide, N,N′-(4-methyl-1,3-phenylene)-bismaleimide, 1,1′-(3,3′-dimethyl-1,1′-diphenyl-4,4′-dimethylene)-bismaleimide, N,N′-ethenyl-bismaleimide, N,N′-butenyl-bismaleimide, N,N′-(1,2-phenylene)-bismaleimide, N,N′-(1,3-phenylene)-bismaleimide, N,N′-bismaleimide sulfide, N,N′-bismaleimide disulfide, keto-N,N′-bismaleimide, N,N′-methylene-bismaleimide, bismaleimide-methyl-ether, 1,2-bismaleimide-1,2-glycol, N,N′-4,4′-diphenyl-ether-bismaleimide, 4,4′-bismaleimide-diphenyl sulfone, and combinations thereof.
The maleimide type derivative monomer can be obtained by substituting a hydrogen atom of the maleimide monomer, the bismaleimide monomer, or the multimaleimide monomer with a halogen atom.
The cathode active material can be at least one of layer type lithium transition metal oxides, spinel type lithium transition metal oxides, and olivine type lithium transition metal oxides. The cathode active material can be represented by a chemical formula of LixNi1−yLyO2, LixCo1−yLyO2, LixMn1−yLyO2, LixFe1−yLyPO4, LixNi0.5+z−aMn1.5−z−bLaRbO4, LixNicCodMneLfO2, or LixMn2−iLiO4, wherein 0.1≦x≦1.1, 0≦y<1 (such as 0.1<y<0.5), 0≦z<1.5 (such as 0≦z<0.1), 0≦a−z<0.5, 0≦b+z<1.5, 0<c<1, 0<d<1, 0<e<1, 0≦f≦0.2, c+d+e+f=1, and 0≦i<2. L and R can be selected from at least one of alkali metal elements, alkaline earth metal elements, group 13 elements, group 14 elements, transition metal elements, and rare earth elements, such as at least one of Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, V, Ti, Al, Ga and Mg. The cathode active material can be at least one of olivine type lithium iron phosphate, layer type lithium cobalt oxide, layer type lithium manganese oxide, spinel type lithium manganese oxide, lithium nickel manganese oxide, and lithium cobalt nickel manganese oxide.
The cathode composite material can comprise a conducting agent and/or a binder. The conducting agent can be carbonaceous materials, such as at least one of carbon black, conducting polymers, acetylene black, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and graphite. The binder can be at least one of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluoro rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).
In one embodiment, components of the cathode composite material can be dispersed in an organic solvent together, stirred, and mixed uniformly to form a slurry. The slurry can be coated on a surface of a cathode current collector, and the organic solvent can be evaporated to form a cathode. In one embodiment, a layer of the maleimide type monomer can be coated on the surface of the cathode active material to form a core-shell structure firstly, followed by mixing the core-shell structure with other components, coating the slurry, and drying to obtain the cathode. In one embodiment, the maleimide type monomer can be melted or dissolved in the organic solvent to form a solution. The cathode active material is then added to the solution, stirred, taken out from the solution, filtered, and dried to form a coating layer of the maleimide type monomer on the surface of the cathode active material.
The uniform mixture of the maleimide type monomer and the cathode active material can be coated on the surface of the cathode current collector as a component of the cathode composite material. The maleimide type monomer can be located inside and at an outer surface of the cathode composite material layer. The maleimide type monomer, especially when being coated on the surface of the cathode active material, can protect the cathode active material effectively at overvoltage to avoid the heat runaway and increase the thermal stability.
In one embodiment, a lithium ion battery is provided. The lithium ion battery can comprise the cathode, an anode, a separator, and an electrolyte liquid. The cathode and the anode are spaced from each other by the separator. The cathode can further comprise the cathode current collector and the cathode composite material located on the surface of the cathode current collector. The anode can further comprise an anode current collector and an anode material located on a surface of the anode current collector. The anode material and the cathode composite material are relatively arranged and spaced by the separator.
The anode material can comprise an anode active material, and can further comprise a conducting agent and a binder. The anode active material can be at least one of lithium titanate, graphite, mesophase carbon micro beads (MCMB), acetylene black, mesocarbon miocrobead, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and cracked carbon. The conducting agent can be carbonaceous materials, such as at least one of carbon black, conducting polymers, acetylene black, carbon fibers, carbon nanotubes, and graphite. The binder can be at least one of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), fluoro rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer, and styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR).
The separator can be polyolefin microporous membrane, modified polypropylene fabric, polyethylene fabric, glass fiber fabric, superfine glass fiber paper, vinylon fabric, or composite membrane of nylon fabric and wettable polyolefin microporous membrane composited by welding or bonding.
The electrolyte liquid comprises a lithium salt and a non-aqueous solvent. The non-aqueous solvent can comprise at least one of cyclic carbonates, chain carbonates, cyclic ethers, chain ethers, nitriles, amides and combinations thereof, such as ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, propylene carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, butylene carbonate, gamma-butyrolactone, gamma-valerolactone, dipropyl carbonate, N-methyl pyrrolidone, N-methylformamide, N-methylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, N,N-diethylformamide, diethyl ether, acetonitrile, propionitrile, anisole, succinonitrile, adiponitrile, glutaronitrile, dimethyl sulfoxide, dimethyl sulfite, vinylene carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, fluoroethylene carbonate, chloropropylene carbonate, acetonitrile, succinonitrile, methoxymethylsulfone, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, epoxy propane, methyl acetate, ethyl acetate, propyl acetate, methyl butyrate, ethyl propionate, methyl propionate, 1,3-dioxolane, 1,2-diethoxyethane, 1,2-dimethoxyethane, and 1,2-dibutoxy.
The lithium salt can comprise at least one of lithium chloride (LiCl), lithium hexafluorophosphate (LiPF6), lithium tetrafluoroborate (LiBF4), lithium methanesulfonate (LiCH3SO3), lithium trifluoromethanesulfonate (LiCF3SO3), lithium hexafluoroarsenate (LiAsF6), lithium hexafluoroantimonate (LiSbF6), lithium perchlorate (LiClO4), Li[BF2(C2O4)], Li[PF2(C2O4)2], Li[N(CF3SO2)2], Li[C(CF3SO2)3], and lithium bisoxalatoborate (LiBOB).
Half Cell
80% of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, 3% of N-phenyl-maleimide, 7% of PVDF, and 10% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil and vacuum dried at 120° C. to obtain a cathode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. A 2032 button battery having the cathode, the electrolyte liquid, and a lithium plate as a counter electrode is assembled, and a charge-discharge performance is tested. The N-phenyl-maleimide is represented by formula III:
Full Cell
94% of graphite anode, 3.5% of PVDF, and 2.5% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on a copper foil, vacuum dried at about 100° C., pressed and cut to obtain an anode. The cathode and the electrolyte liquid are the same as in the half cell in this example. The cathode and the anode are assembled and rolled up to form a 63.5 mm×51.5 mm×4.0 mm sized soft packaged battery.
Half Cell
80% of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, 3% of bismaleimide, 7% of PVDF, and 10% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil and vacuum dried at 120° C. for 12 hours to obtain a cathode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. A 2032 button battery having the cathode, the electrolyte liquid, and a lithium plate as a counter electrode is assembled, and a charge-discharge performance is tested. The bismaleimide is represented by formula IV:
Full Cell
94% of graphite anode, 3.5% of PVDF, and 2.5% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on a copper foil, vacuum dried at about 100° C., pressed and cut to obtain an anode. The cathode and the electrolyte liquid are the same as in the half cell in this example. The cathode and the anode are assembled and rolled up to form a 63.5 mm×51.5 mm×4.0 mm sized soft packaged battery.
Half Cell
80% of LiNi1/3Co1/3O2, 3% of bismaleimide, 7% of PVDF, and 10% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil and vacuum dried at 120° C. for 12 hours to obtain a cathode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. A 2032 button battery having the cathode, the electrolyte liquid, and a lithium plate as a counter electrode is assembled, and a charge-discharge performance is tested. The bismaleimide is represented by formula V:
Full Cell
94% of graphite anode, 3.5% of PVDF, and 2.5% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an copper foil, vacuum dried at about 100° C., pressed and cut to obtain an anode. The cathode and the electrolyte liquid are the same as in the half cell in this example. The cathode and the anode are assembled and rolled up to form a 63.5 mm×51.5 mm×4.0 mm sized soft packaged battery.
Example 4
Half Cell
80% of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, 3% of N,N′-ethenyl-bismaleimide, 7% of PVDF, and 10% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil and vacuum dried at 120° C. for 12 hours to obtain a cathode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. A 2032 button battery having the cathode, the electrolyte liquid, and a lithium plate as a counter electrode is assembled, and a charge-discharge performance is tested.
Full Cell
94% of graphite anode, 3.5% of PVDF, and 2.5% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on a copper foil, vacuum dried at about 100° C., pressed and cut to obtain an anode. The cathode and the electrolyte liquid are the same as in the half cell in this example. The cathode and the anode are assembled and rolled up to form a 63.5 mm×51.5 mm×4.0 mm sized soft packaged battery.
Half Cell
83% of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, 7% of PVDF, and 10% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil and vacuum dried at 120° C. for 12 hours to obtain a cathode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. A 2032 button battery having the cathode, the electrolyte liquid, and a lithium plate as a counter electrode is assembled, and a charge-discharge performance is tested.
Full Cell
94% of LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2, 3% of PVDF, and 3% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on an aluminum foil, vacuum dried at 120° C., pressed and cut to obtain to obtain a cathode.
94% of graphite anode, 3.5% of PVDF, and 2.5% of conducting graphite by mass percent are mixed and dispersed by the NMP to form a slurry. The slurry is coated on a copper foil, vacuum dried at about 100° C., pressed and cut to obtain an anode. 1 M of LiPF6 is dissolved in a solvent mixture of EC/DEC/EMC=1/1/1(v/v/v) to obtain an electrolyte liquid. The cathode and the anode are assembled and rolled up to form a 63.5 mm×51.5 mm×4.0 mm sized soft packaged battery.
Electrochemical Performance Test
The half cells of Examples 1 to 4 and Comparative Example 1 are charged and discharged at a constant current rate of 0.2 C in the voltage ranged from 2.8V to 4.3V over 30 cycles, and the test results are listed in Table 1.
Overcharge Test
The batteries of Example 1 and Comparative Example 1 are charged at a current rate of 1 C to a cut-off voltage of 10 V.
The maleimide type monomer does not need to be polymerized with other monomers, but can be directly added in the cathode composite material. The addition of the maleimide type monomer improves the electrode stability and thermal stability of the lithium ion battery without affecting the cycling performance thereof, and protects the lithium ion battery during overcharge.
Finally, it is to be understood that the above-described embodiments are intended to illustrate rather than limit the present disclosure. Variations may be made to the embodiments without departing from the spirit of the present disclosure as claimed. Elements associated with any of the above embodiments are envisioned to be associated with any other embodiments. The above-described embodiments illustrate the scope of the present disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the present disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201410391793.4 | Aug 2014 | CN | national |
This application claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. §119 from China Patent Application No. 201410391793.4, filed on Aug. 11, 2014 in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, the content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. This application is a continuation under 35 U.S.C. §120 of international patent application PCT/CN2015/081514 filed on Jun. 16, 2015, the content of which is also hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | PCT/CN2015/081514 | Jun 2015 | US |
Child | 15428383 | US |