A cathode configured to use oxygen as a cathode active material includes: a porous film including a metal oxide, where a porosity of the porous film is about 50 volume percent to about 95 volume percent, based on a total volume of the porous film, and an amount of an organic component in the porous film is 0 to about 2 weight percent, based on a total weight of the porous film.

A lithium metal oxide suitable for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery having a general formula of: Li.sub.xM.sub.zM′.sub.zO.sub.uF.sub.y, where x is 1.80<x<2.20, y=1, and more specifically 1.90<x<2.10, with 1.80<u<2.20. Preferably, 1.90<u<2.10, and 0.80<y<1.20, or more specifically, 0.90<y<1.10. The lithium metal oxide has a cation-disordered rocksalt structure, wherein M is a transition metal selected from a first group consisting of Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, and combinations thereof. M′ is a transition metal selected from a second group consisting of Ti, Zr, Nb, Mo, Sn, Hf, Te, Sb, and combinations thereof. M has a first oxidation state q and M′ has a second oxidation state q′, with (q/z)+(q′/z′)=+3, preferably +2.7≤q/z)+(q′/z′)≤+3.3.

Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.

Supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize lithium ion batteries with lithium rich metal oxides as the positive electrode active material. Dramatic improvements in the specific capacity at long cycling have been obtained. The supplemental lithium can be provided with the negative electrode, or alternatively as a sacrificial material that is subsequently driven into the negative electrode active material. The supplemental lithium can be provided to the negative electrode active material prior to assembly of the battery using electrochemical deposition. The positive electrode active materials can comprise a layered-layered structure comprising manganese as well as nickel and/or cobalt.

Electrode materials for electrochemical cells and batteries and methods of producing such materials are disclosed herein. The electrode materials comprise an active lithium metal oxide material prepared by: (a) contacting the lithium metal oxide material with an aqueous acidic solution containing one or more metal cations; and (b) heating the so-contacted lithium metal oxide from step (a) to dryness at a temperature below 200° C. The metal cations in the aqueous acidic solution comprise one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an alkaline earth metal ion, a transition metal ion, and a main group metal ion.

A cathode configured to use oxygen as a cathode active material includes: a porous film including a metal oxide, where a porosity of the porous film is about 50 volume percent to about 95 volume percent, based on a total volume of the porous film, and an amount of an organic component in the porous film is 0 to about 2 weight percent, based on a total weight of the porous film.

Provided herein is a method for preparing a ternary cathode material for lithium-ion battery by a static mixer, wherein the cathode material comprises a lithium multi-metal composite oxide represented by xLi.sub.2MnO.sub.3.(1x)LiNi.sub.aMn.sub.bCo.sub.cAl.sub.(1-a-b-c)O.sub.2, where 0a<1, 0b<1, 0c<1, a+b+c1, and 0x<1. The cathode material disclosed herein exhibits a high initial specific capacity, possesses good safety characteristics and shows excellent capacity retention.

Disclosed are a precursor for preparation of a lithium composite transition metal oxide, a method for preparing the same and a lithium composite transition metal oxide obtained from the same. More particularly, the transition metal precursor which has a composition represented by Formula 1 below and is prepared in an aqueous transition metal solution, mixed with a transition metal-containing salt, including an alkaline material, the method for preparing the same and the lithium composite transition metal oxide obtained from the same are disclosed.
Mn.sub.aM.sub.b(OH.sub.1-x).sub.2-yA.sub.y(1) wherein M is at least one selected form the group consisting of Ni, Ti, Co, Al, Cu, Fe, Mg, B, Cr, Zr, Zn and Period II transition metals; A is at least one selected form the group consisting of anions of PO.sub.4, BO.sub.3, CO.sub.3, F and NO.sub.3, and 0.5a1.0; 0b0.5; a+b=1; 0<x<1.0; and 0y0.02.

Provided herein is a method for preparing a ternary cathode material for lithium-ion battery by a static mixer, wherein the cathode material comprises a lithium multi-metal composite oxide represented by xLi.sub.2MnO.sub.3.(1-x) LiNi.sub.aMn.sub.bCo.sub.cAl.sub.(1a-b-c)O.sub.2, where 0a<1, 0b<1, 0c<1, a+b+c1, and 0x<1. The cathode material disclosed herein exhibits a high initial specific capacity, possesses good safety characteristics and shows excellent capacity retention.

The present invention relates to a cathode active material for a secondary battery and a preparation method thereof, and more particularly, to a lithium composite oxide including a secondary particle formed as primary particles cohere, in which a manganese (Mn) oxide is present in the periphery of the primary particles, a concentration of an Mn oxide in the primary particle has a concentration gradient from the center of the primary particle to a surface of the particle, a concentration of an Mn oxide in the secondary particle has a concentration gradient from a surface of the secondary particle to the center thereof, and a lithium ion migration path is formed in the primary particle, and a preparation method thereof. A secondary battery including the cathode active material for a secondary battery may have high safety, while exhibiting high capacity and high output.