An improved process is provided for forming a precursor to a lithium metal oxide. An improved lithium metal oxide formed by calcining the precursor is also provided. The process includes providing lithium bicarbonate in a first aqueous mixture. The lithium bicarbonate is then reacted with metal acetate thereby forming a second aqueous mixture comprising metal carbonate, lithium acetate, acetic acid and water wherein the acetic acid is neutralized with lithium hydroxide thereby forming a first mixture comprising metal carbonate and lithium acetate. The first mixture is separated into a second mixture and a third mixture wherein the second mixture comprises the metal carbonate and a first portion of lithium acetate with metal carbonate and lithium acetate being in a predetermined molar ratio. The third mixture comprises a second portion of lithium acetate. The second mixture is dried thereby forming the precursor comprising metal carbonate and lithium acetate in the predetermined molar ratio.

A method of producing submicrometer- to micrometer-sized spherical particles, the method comprising dissolving a lithium salt and a metal salt in water or alcohol forming a precursor solution, spraying the precursor solution to form fine aerosolized droplets, flowing the aerosolized droplets into a pyro lysis flame producing submicrometer- to micrometer-sized spherical particles. The submicrometer- to micrometer-sized spherical lithium-metal oxide powders produced are cathode materials for Li-ion batteries.

An improved process is provided for forming a precursor to a lithium metal oxide. An improved lithium metal oxide formed by calcining the precursor is also provided. The process includes providing lithium bicarbonate in a first aqueous mixture. The lithium bicarbonate is then reacted with metal acetate thereby forming a second aqueous mixture comprising metal carbonate, lithium acetate, acetic acid and water wherein the acetic acid is neutralized with lithium hydroxide thereby forming a first mixture comprising metal carbonate and lithium acetate. The first mixture is separated into a second mixture and a third mixture wherein the second mixture comprises the metal carbonate and a first portion of lithium acetate with metal carbonate and lithium acetate being in a predetermined molar ratio. The third mixture comprises a second portion of lithium acetate. The second mixture is dried thereby forming the precursor comprising metal carbonate and lithium acetate in the predetermined molar ratio.

Disclosed are a cathode active material including a lithium transition metal oxide based on at least one transition metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn and Co, wherein at least one hetero element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Co, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Bi, Zn and Zr is located at a surface portion of or inside the lithium transition metal oxide, and a secondary battery including the same. The cathode active material according to the present invention includes predetermined hetero elements at a surface thereof and therein, and, as such, a secondary battery based on the cathode active material may exhibit excellent high-speed charge characteristics and lifespan characteristics.

A process for producing a doped lithium manganese-oxide spinel material includes producing, by means of a solid-state reaction, a spinel precursor comprising lithium-manganese-oxide doped with nickel. The precursor is subjected to microwave treatment, to obtain a treated precursor. The treated precursor is annealed to obtain a nickel-doped lithium-manganese-oxide spinel material.

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 Fd3m in X-ray diffraction thereof: (A) when indexed with Fd3m 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 Fd3m 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 in an abscissa thereof and B cos in an ordinate thereof wherein B is a full-width at half maximum with respect to each peak position 2 (10 to 90) is in the range of 3.010.sup.4 to 20.010.sup.4; and
Li.sub.1+xMn.sub.2yzNi.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.4Chemical Formula (1)
wherein x, y, z fall within the range of 0.05x0.15, 0.4y0.6 and 0z0.20, 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.

High power lithium-ion batteries are disclosed. Such batteries may be used, for example, as the sole electric starter motor power sources for automotive vehicles powered by multi-cylinder engines with reciprocating pistons when the vehicles are to be operated in an engine start-stop mode to conserve fuel. Such batteries typically utilize non-aqueous solutions of lithium salts, such as LiPF.sub.6 or LiBF.sub.4, in combination with durable lithium intercalating electrodes. In accordance with this disclosure the performance of the battery's electrolyte and cells over a wide ambient temperature range is enhanced by a mixture of five miscible solvents formed of lower alkyl moieties. The quinary solvent mixture comprises two cyclic alkyl carbonates, two linear alkyl carbonates, and with a major portion of an alkyl ester.

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 transition metal oxide containing solid-solution lithium that realizes high initial discharge capacity and capacity retention is represented by the compositional formula: Li.sub.1.5[Ni.sub.aM.sub.bMn.sub.c[Li].sub.d]O.sub.3, wherein M represents at least one kind of element selected from the group consisting of silicon, phosphorus and metal elements (excluding Ni, Mn and Li), a, b, c and d satisfy specific relationships, and n is the valence of M. The oxide has a layered structure site and a site which changes to a spinel structure by performing a charge or a charge-discharge in a predetermined electric potential range, and a spinel structure change ratio k in a range of 0.25k<1.0 when the spinel structure change ratio is assumed to be 1 in a case where Li.sub.2MnO.sub.3 of the layered structure in the transition metal oxide containing solid-solution lithium completely changes to LiMn.sub.2O.sub.4 of the spinel structure.

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 in an abscissa thereof and B cos in an ordinate thereof wherein B is a full-width at half maximum with respect to each peak position 2 (10 to 90) is in the range of 3.010.sup.4 to 20.010.sup.4; and

Li.sub.1+xMn.sub.2-y-zNi.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.4Chemical 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.