A cathode active material for a lithium ion battery includes particles having a core-shell structure, where each of the particles has a core including a core material and a shell including a shell material. The core material is selected from the group consisting of: layered oxides, including overlithiated layered oxides, compounds having an olivine structure, compounds having a spinel structure, and combinations thereof. The shell material includes a spinel compound. The shell material and/or the core material is at least partially delithiated.

Provided is an improved method for forming a coated lithium ion cathode materials specifically for use in a battery. The method comprises forming a first solution comprising a digestible feedstock of a first metal suitable for formation of a cathode oxide precursor and a multi-carboxylic acid. The digestible feedstock is digested to form a first metal salt in solution wherein the first metal salt precipitates as a salt of deprotonated multi-carboxylic acid thereby forming an oxide precursor and a coating metal is added to the oxide precursor. The oxide precursor is heated to form the coated lithium ion cathode material.

The invention relates to a lithium positive electrode active material for a high voltage secondary battery: the lithium positive electrode active material comprising at least 94 wt % spinel, where the spinel has a net chemical composition of Li.sub.xNi.sub.yMn.sub.2-yO.sub.4, wherein:

0.95≤x≤1.05;

0.43≤y≤0.47.

The lithium positive electrode active material is made up of particles characterized by one or more of the following parameter ranges: the particles have average aspect ratio below 1.6, the particles have a roughness below 1.35, particles have a circularity above 0.55. Then invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the lithium positive electrode active material as well as a secondary battery comprising the lithium positive electrode active material.

A process for producing a cathode or anode material adapted for use in the manufacture of fast rechargeable ion batteries. The process may include the steps of Selecting an precursor material that, upon heating in a gas stream, releases volatile compounds to create porous materials to generate a material compound suitable for an electrode in an ion battery. Grinding the precursor material to produce a powder of particles with a first predetermined particle size distribution to form a precursor powder. Calcining the precursor powder in a flash calciner reactor segment with a first process gas at a first temperature to produce a porous particle material suitable for an electrode in an ion battery, and having the pore properties, surface area and nanoscale structures for applications in such batteries. Processing the hot precursor powder in a second calciner reactor segment with a second process gas to complete the calcination reaction, to anneal the material to optimise the particle strength, and to modify the oxidation state of the product for maximising the charge density when the particle is activated in a battery cell to form a second precursor powder. Quenching the second precursor powder. Activating the particles of the second precursor powder in an electrolytic cell by the initial charging steps to intercalate electrolyte ions in the particles.

Provided is an improved method for forming a coated lithium ion cathode materials specifically for use in a battery. The method comprises forming a first solution comprising a digestible feedstock of a first metal suitable for formation of a cathode oxide precursor and a multi-carboxylic acid. The digestible feedstock is digested to form a first metal salt in solution wherein the first metal salt precipitates as a salt of deprotonated multi-carboxylic acid thereby forming an oxide precursor and a coating metal is added to the oxide precursor. The oxide precursor is heated to form the coated lithium ion cathode material.

A material synthesis method may comprise: adding at least one liquid precursor solution to an atomizer device; generating by the atomizer device an aerosol comprising liquid droplets; transporting the aerosol to a reactive zone for evaporating one or more solvents from the aerosol; and collecting particles synthesized from at least evaporating the aerosol.

High-temperature thermochemical energy storage materials using doped magnesium-transition metal spinel oxides are provided. —transition metal spinel oxides, such as magnesium manganese oxide (MgMn).sub.3O.sub.4, are promising candidates for high-temperature thermochemical energy storage applications. However, the use of these materials has been constrained by the limited extent of their endothermic reaction. Embodiments described herein provide for doping magnesium-transition metal spinel oxides to produce a material of low material costs and with high energy densities, creating an avenue for plausibly sized modules with high energy storing capacities.

A method for producing a lithium-containing oxide comprising one or more metal elements, which can be used as an active material for an electrode, for example a positive electrode for a lithium battery, the method comprising the following successive steps: a) a step of bringing at least one coordination polymer into contact with a lithium source, the coordination polymer comprising the other metal element(s) interconnected by organic ligands; b) a step of calcining the mixture resulting from step a).

The present invention provides a precursor of positive electrode active substance particles for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries which have a high discharge voltage and a high discharge capacity, hardly suffer from side reactions with an electrolyte solution, and are excellent in cycle characteristics, positive electrode active substance particles for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, and processes for producing these particles, and a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery. The present invention relates to positive electrode active substance particles for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary batteries having a spinel structure with a composition represented by the following chemical formula (1), in which the positive electrode active substance particles satisfy the following characteristic (A) and/or characteristic (B) when indexed with Fd-3m in X-ray diffraction thereof: (A) when indexed with Fd-3m in X-ray diffraction of the positive electrode active substance particles, a ratio of I(311) to I(111) [I(311)/I(111)] is in the range of 35 to 43%, and/or (B) when indexed with Fd-3m in X-ray diffraction of the positive electrode active substance particles, a gradient of a straight line determined by a least square method in a graph prepared by plotting sin θ in an abscissa thereof and B cos θ in an ordinate thereof wherein B is a full-width at half maximum with respect to each peak position 2θ (10 to 90°) is in the range of 3.0×10.sup.−4 to 20.0×10.sup.−4; and
Li.sub.1+xMn.sub.2−y−zNi.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.4  Chemical Formula (1)
wherein x, y, z fall within the range of −0.05.Math.x.Math.0.15, 0.4.Math.y.Math.0.6 and 0.Math.z.Math.0.20, respectively; and M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Ti, Co, Zn, Sb, Ba, W and Bi.

A process for producing a cathode or anode material adapted for use in the manufacture of fast rechargeable ion batteries. The process may include the steps of Selecting an precursor material that, upon heating in a gas stream, releases volatile compounds to create porous materials to generate a material compound suitable for an electrode in an ion battery. Grinding the precursor material to produce a powder of particles with a first predetermined particle size distribution to form a precursor powder. Calcining the precursor powder in a flash calciner reactor segment with a first process gas at a first temperature to produce a porous particle material suitable for an electrode in an ion battery, and having the pore properties, surface area and nanoscale structures for applications in such batteries. Processing the hot precursor powder in a second calciner reactor segment with a second process gas to complete the calcination reaction, to anneal the material to optimise the particle strength, and to modify the oxidation state of the product for maximising the charge density when the particle is activated in a battery cell to form a second precursor powder. Quenching the second precursor powder. Activating the particles of the second precursor powder in an electrolytic cell by the initial charging steps to intercalate electrolyte ions in the particles.