The present invention relates to a novel method for preparing lithium oxide. In the present invention, the particle size and shape of lithium oxide may be controlled during the preparing process. In addition, the present invention relates to lithium oxide with controlled particle size and shape prepared by this preparing method.

Nickelate cathode materials are provided, wherein said cathode material has an X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern comprising a first peak from about 40.0-41.6 2Θ, and a second peak from about 62.6-63.0 2Θ. Methods of preparing such cathode materials are also provided. Alkaline electrochemical cells comprising said cathode materials are also provided.

A catalyst containing, as an essential component, molybdenum; bismuth; and cobalt, in which, with respect to a peak intensity at 2θ=25.3°±0.2° in an X-ray diffraction pattern obtained by using CuKα rays as an X-ray source, a changing rate (Q1) per 1000 hours of reaction time represented by the following formulae (1) to (4) is 16 or less.

Q1={(U1/F1−1)×100}/T×1000  (1)

F1=(peak intensity of catalyst before oxidation reaction at 2θ=25.3°±)0.2°/(peak intensity of catalyst before oxidation reaction at 2θ=26.5°±0.2°)×100  (2)

U1=(peak intensity of catalyst after oxidation reaction at 2θ=25.3°±0.2°)/(peak intensity of catalyst after oxidation reaction at 2θ=26.5°±0.2°)×100  (3)

T=time (hr) during which oxidation reaction is carried out  (4)

Particulate electrode active material with an average particle diameter in the range of from 2 to 20 μm (D50) having a general formula Li.sub.1+xTM.sub.1−xO.sub.2 wherein TM is a combination of Ni, Co and Al, and, optionally, at least one more metal selected from Mg, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, Mn, and W, with at least 80 mole-% of TM being Ni, and wherein x is in the range of from zero to 0.2, wherein the Co content at the outer surface of the secondary particles is higher than at the center of the secondary particles by a factor of at most 5 or by at most 30 mol-%, referring to TM.

A process for preparing a lithium nickel metal oxide is provided. The process comprises a step of high-energy milling a mixture of a nickel source, a lithium source and at least one additional metal source to form a high-energy milled intermediate, and subsequently calcining the high-energy milled intermediate to form the lithium nickel metal oxide.

Provided are a nickel-based active material for a lithium secondary battery, a method of preparing the nickel-based active material, and a lithium secondary battery including a positive electrode including the nickel-based active material. The nickel-based active material includes at least one secondary particle that includes at least two primary particle structures, the primary particle structures each including a porous inner portion and an outer portion having a radially arranged structure, and the secondary particle including at least two radial centers.

The positive electrode active material with lithium composite oxide A containing W and Ni and W-free lithium composite oxide B containing Ni. Regarding the lithium composite oxide A, the proportion of Ni relative to the total moles of metal elements except for lithium is 30 to 60 mol %, 50% particle size D50 is 2 to 6 μm, 10% particle size D10 is 1.0 μm or more, and 90% particle size D90 is 6.8 μm or less. Regarding the lithium composite oxide B, the proportion of Ni relative to the total moles of metal elements except for lithium is 50 to 95 mol %, 50% particle size D50 is 10 to 22 μm, 10% particle size D10 is 7.0 μm or more, and 90% particle size D90 is 22.5 μm or less. The mass ratio of the lithium composite oxide B to the lithium composite oxide A is 1:1 to 5.7:1.

The present disclosure relates to a positive electrode active material, a preparing method therefor, and a lithium secondary battery including same. A positive electrode active material according to an embodiment comprises: a core including a lithium nickel composite oxide represented by Chemical Formula 1; and a surface layer present on the core and including at least one of a water-soluble ammonium-based organic compound and a water-soluble amine-based organic compound. The details of Chemical Formula 1 are as defined in the specification.

The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material which has the structural stability of a lithium composite oxide constituting a positive electrode active material and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The lithium composite oxide constituting the positive electrode active material according to the present invention is able to reduce the surface area and grain boundary of secondary particles having a side reaction with an electrolyte solution, thereby improving high-temperature stability and reducing gas generation caused by the positive electrode active material, and the structural stability of the lithium composite oxide may be improved using a cation-mixing layer covering the surface of a primary particle.

The present disclosure relates to a cathode additive, a method for preparing the same, and a cathode and a lithium secondary battery including the same. More specifically, one embodiment of the present disclosure provides a cathode additive that can offset an irreversible capacity imbalance, increase the initial charge capacity of a cathode, and simultaneously inhibit the generation of a gas in a battery.