High-nickel cathode material for lithium ion battery and preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

A high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries and a preparation method and application thereof. The high-nickel cathode material contains elements shown in and constituting the chemical formula 1 thereof Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.bMn.sub.cA.sub.dO.sub.2, where 0.01≤a≤0.24, 0.79<b≤0.96, 0.01<c≤0.20, 0<d≤0.06; and A is selected from any one or two or more of Mn, Co, Al, Zr, Y, Rb, Cs, W, Ce, Mo, Ba, Ti, Mg, Ta, Nb, Ca, V, Sc, Sr and B, or from a phosphorus-containing compound containing at least one of Ti, Al, Mg, Zr, La and Li. The high-nickel cathode material of the lithium ion battery of the present invention has better cycling performance, higher capacity, and a relatively small increase in resistance during cycling of the battery.

Claims

1. A high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries, characterized in that the high-nickel cathode material has a porous structure, wherein the high-nickel cathode material comprises elements constituting chemical formula 1, Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.bMn.sub.cA.sub.dO.sub.2, where 0.01≤a≤0.24, 0.79<b≤0.96, 0.01<c≤0.20, 0<d≤0.06; and A is selected from any one or two or more from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Al, Zr, Y, Rb, Cs, W, Ce, Mo, Ba, Ti, Mg, Ta, Nb, Ca, V, Sc, Sr and B, or A is selected from a phosphorus-containing compound containing at least one of Ti, Al, Mg, Zr, La and Li.

2. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that a BJH pore size distribution curve has a unimodal or multimodal pore size distribution in the range of pore sizes 1.5-20 nm, when measured by the nitrogen adsorption; and the high-nickel cathode material has a single point adsorption total pore volume within 0.01 g/cm.sup.3.

3. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the high-nickel cathode material has a single point adsorption total pore volume within 0.007 g/cm.sup.3 in the range of pore sizes 1.5-20 nm.

4. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.080-0.180 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

5. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 2, characterized in that the cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.080-0.180 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

6. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 3, characterized in that the cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.080-0.180 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

7. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the cathode material D.sub.V50 has a particle size of 3-20 μm.

8. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the cathode material has a specific surface area of 0.33-1.5 m.sup.2/g.

9. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the cathode material has a tap density of ≥1.9 g/cm.sup.3.

10. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that the cathode material has a total free lithium content of <1800 ppm.

11. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

12. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 2, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

13. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 3, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

14. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 4, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

15. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 5, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

16. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 6, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

17. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 7, wherein in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

18. The high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1, characterized in that a high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries comprise two or more of the cathode materials of claim 1.

19. A cathode for lithium ion batteries, comprising a current collector and a cathode material loaded on the current collector, wherein the cathode material is the high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries according to claim 1.

20. A lithium ion battery, comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises a lithium salt, and wherein the cathode is the lithium ion battery cathode according to claim 18.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] FIG. 1 shows distribution curves of the pore size of a high-nickel cathode material prepared in Example 7.

[0027] FIG. 2 is an X-ray diffraction diagram of the high-nickel cathode material prepared in Example 6.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0028] In order to make the objects, technical solutions and technical effects of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention are described clearly and completely. The embodiments described below are some, but not all embodiments of the invention. All other embodiments which can be obtained by a person skilled in the art without inventive effort in combination with the embodiments of the present invention are within the scope of the present invention.

[0029] In the description of the present invention, the term “multimodal” refers to a pore size distribution including two or more pore volume maxima on a BJH pore size distribution curve, typically the maximum of the pore volume being 0.0008 g/cm.sup.3 or even more.

In the description of the present invention, the term “unimodal” refers to a pore size distribution including one pore volume maximum on the BJH pore size distribution curve, typically the maximum of the pore volume being 0.0008 g/cm.sup.3 or even more.

[0030] In order that the foregoing may be better understood, the present invention is described in further detail below.

[0031] The present invention provides a high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries. The high-nickel cathode material has a porous structure, and contains elements shown in and constituting the chemical formula 1 thereof Li.sub.1+aNi.sub.bMn.sub.cA.sub.dO.sub.2, where 0.01≤a≤0.24, 0.79<b≤0.96, 0.01<c≤0.20, 0<d≤0.06; and A is selected from any one or two or more of Mn, Co, Al, Zr, Y, Rb, Cs, W, Ce, Mo, Ba, Ti, Mg, Ta, Nb, Ca, V, Sc, Sr and B, or from a phosphorus-containing compound containing at least one of Ti, Al, Mg, Zr, La and Li.

[0032] It should be noted that the phosphorous-containing compound includes but is not limited to one or more of Li.sub.3PO.sub.4, titanium aluminum lithium phosphate (LATP) or [LiAlXTi (2-X) (PO4) 3].

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a BJH pore size distribution curve has a unimodal or multimodal pore size distribution in the range of pore sizes 1.5-20 nm, when measured by the nitrogen adsorption; and the high-nickel cathode material has a single point adsorption total pore volume within 0.01 g/cm.sup.3, preferably within 0.007 g/cm.sup.3, in the range of pore sizes 1.5-20 nm.

[0033] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.080-0.180 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in a powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

[0034] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the high-nickel cathode material has a D.sub.V50 particle size of 3-20 μm.

[0035] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the high-nickel cathode material has a specific surface area of 0.33 to 1.5 m.sup.2/g; and/or the high-nickel cathode material has a tap density of ≥1.9 g/cm.sup.3; and/or the high-nickel cathode material has a total free lithium content of <1800 ppm.

[0036] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the chemical formula 1, 0.001≤d≤0.04.

[0037] The present invention also provides a method for preparing the above-mentioned cathode material for lithium ion batteries. The method includes at least two sintering and one coating treatment after mixing raw materials. The raw materials include a Li source, a metal A source, and a nickel manganese hydroxide precursor.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first sintering temperature is 700° C.-900° C., preferably 790° C.-890° C.; further preferably, the constant temperature time is 8-40 hours; and/or

the second sintering temperature is 400° C.-800° C., preferably 680° C.-800° C.; further preferably, the constant temperature time is 5-20 hours; more preferably, the sintering atmosphere is oxygen.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to the preparation method for a high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries as described above, the coating treatment is performed before the final sintering.

[0039] In still another preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to the above-mentioned preparation method, a Li source is a lithium-containing oxide, a lithium-containing fluoride, or a lithium-containing salt; preferably the Li source is one or two or more selected from the group consisting of anhydrous lithium hydroxide, lithium hydroxide monohydrate, lithium carbonate, lithium nitrate, lithium acetate, and lithium fluoride.

[0040] In yet another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the precursor in raw materials has a D.sub.v50 particle size of 2.0-20 μm.

[0041] The present invention also provides a high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries, which is prepared by the above-mentioned preparation method. The present invention also provides a high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries, comprising two or more of the above cathode materials. The present invention also provides a cathode for lithium ion batteries, comprising a current collector and a cathode material loaded on the current collector, wherein the cathode material is the high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries as described above.

[0042] The present invention also provides a lithium ion battery comprising a cathode, an anode, and an electrolyte containing a lithium salt, wherein the cathode is the lithium ion battery cathode as described above.

[0043] The lithium ion battery of the present invention further includes a diaphragm and an aluminum-plastic film. Specifically, the electrode includes a cathode and an anode. The cathode is made of a material including a cathode current collector and a cathode active substance coated on the cathode current collector, and a binder, a conductive aid, etc. The cathode active substance is the above-mentioned lithium ion cathode material. The anode is made of a material including a current collector and an anode active substance coated on the current collector, and a binder, a conductive aid, etc. The diaphragm is a PP/PE thin film conventionally used in the art for separating a cathode and an anode from each other. The aluminum-plastic film is a container for a cathode, an anode, a diaphragm, and an electrolyte.

[0044] In some embodiments, the binder includes polyvinyl alcohol, carboxymethyl cellulose, hydroxypropyl cellulose, polyvinyl chloride, carboxylated polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl fluoride, ethylidene oxide-containing polymer, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, polyurethane, polytetrafluoro ethylene, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, polypropylene, styrene-butadiene rubber, acrylated styrene-butadiene rubber, epoxy resin, nylon, etc. and combinations thereof, which functions to improve adhesion characteristics of the cathode active material particles to each other and the cathode active material particles to the current collector.

[0045] The conductive aid includes one or two or more of a carbon-based material, a metal-based material, and a conductive polymer. The carbon-based material is one or two or more of natural graphite, artificial graphite, carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black or carbon fiber. The metal-based material is a metal powder or a metal fiber of copper, nickel, aluminum or silver. The conductive polymer is a polyphenylene derivative.

[0046] The present invention also provides an application of the above-mentioned high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries, or the above-mentioned cathode for lithium ion batteries, or the above-mentioned lithium ion battery, in the field of digital batteries, power batteries or energy storage batteries. Benefits of the present invention are further illustrated by the following specific examples. Each of the reagents and equipment information used in the following examples are shown in Tables 1 and 2.

TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Reagent information used in the examples Reagent Name Grade Type Vendor Tungsten oxide Ceramic — Anhui Xuancheng Jingrui grade New Material Co. Ltd. Rubidium carbonate Ceramic — Anhui Xuancheng Jingrui grade New Material Co. Ltd. Magnesium acetate Reagent — Guizhou Tianlihe grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Strontium carbonate Reagent — Guizhou Tianlihe grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Cerium oxide Ceramic — Anhui Xuancheng Jingrui grade New Material Co. Ltd. Cobalt oxide Reagent — Guizhou Tianlihe grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Cobalt carbonate Reagent — Guizhou Tianlihe grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Boron trioxide Reagent — Nanjing Chemical grade Reagent Factory Ammonium Battery 99.50% Dalian No. 1 Organic heptamolybdate grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Tetrabutyl titanate Reagent 99.80% Nanjing Chemical grade Reagent Factory Aluminum nitrate Battery 99.50% Dalian No. 1 Organic nonahydrate grade Chemical Co. Ltd. Anhydrous lithium Battery 99.5 wt % Sichuan Yahua Lithium hydroxide grade Industry Technology Co. Ltd. Lithium hydroxide Battery 56.0 wt % Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium monohydrate grade Industry Co. Ltd. High purity oxygen Industrial Purity 99.9% Guizhou Yagang Gas Co. grade Ltd Conductive carbon Battery Super P Li Switzerland TIMCAL Co. black grade Ltd. N-methyl Battery Content 99.5% Jiangsu Nanjing Jinlong pyrrolidone grade Chemical Plant Polyvinylidene Battery Solef 6020 Solvay Chemical Company, fluoride grade US Aluminium foil Battery Thickness 16 μm Aluminum Company, US grade Electronic adhesive Electronic Green width 3M Company tape grade 10 mm Lithium sheet Electronic Diameter ϕ20 mm, Shanghai Shunyou Metal grade purity ≥99.9% Material Co. Ltd. Electrolyte Electronic LIB301, propylene Shenzhen Xinzhoubang grade carbonate (PC):ethylene Corporation carbonate (EC):diethyl carbonate (DEC) = 1:1:1 (volume ratio), lithium salt LiPF6 concentration: 1 mol/L Diaphragm — PP/PE/PP tri-layer Celgard Company, US material, Celgard M825, thickness 16 μm. Aluminum-plastic Industrial Total thickness DNP Corporation, film grade 160 μm Japan

TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Equipment information used in the examples Equipment Name Type Manufacturer Laser particle size analyzer MSU2000 Malvern Instruments Co. Ltd. Of UK Mac Automatic Specific TriStar II Mikete Surface and Porosity 3020 Analyzer X-ray diffraction X′Pert PANalytical PRO MPD Inductively coupled plasma iCAP-7400 Thermo Electron, US emission spectrometer High constant temperature LIP-3AHB06 Zhejiang Hangke formation system Technology Limited Liability Company High-efficiency vacuum KP-BAK- Dongguan Kerui drying box 03E-02 Electromechanic Industry Company Jet mill MX-50 Yixing Juneng Grinding Equipment Company Roller kiln 36 meters Huayou New Energy Kiln Equipment Company Tap density instrument BT-303 Dandong Bettersize instruments Ltd. Stirring tank / Guizhou Tianlihe Chemical Co. Ltd.

EXAMPLE 1

[0047] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 31.78 kg of anhydrous lithium hydroxide, 3.44 kg of cerium oxide and 100 kg of nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 8.5 μm (available from Guangdong Yingde Jiana Energy Comany) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0048] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 840° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 10 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into a sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 35 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0049] Second sintering. With the a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 700° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 10 L/min. The first sintering semi-finished product is loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 8 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with the jet mill to obtain a second sintering semi-finished product.

[0050] Coating treatment. The second sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 150 kg of deionized water and 1.05 kg of tetrabutyl titanate are added, mixed for 50 min, and filtered to obtain a filter cake.

[0051] Third sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 600° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 10 L/min. The coated filter cake are loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 4 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0052] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.24Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1Ti.sub.0.0051Ce.sub.0.02O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 2

[0053] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 48.99 kg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 1.2 kg of cobalt oxide and 100 kg of nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.8Mn.sub.0.2(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 4 μm (available from Guangdong Yingde Jiana Energy Co.) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0054] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 890° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 8 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into a sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 28 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0055] Second sintering: With the a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 750° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 8 L/min. The first sintering semi-finished product is loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 6 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with the jet mill to obtain a second sintering semi-finished product.

[0056] Coating treatment. The second sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 120 kg of deionized water and 1.02 kg of tetrabutyl titanate are added, mixed for 60 min, and filtered to obtain a filter cake.

[0057] Third sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 700° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 8 L/min. The coated filter cake are loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 5 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0058] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.01Ni.sub.0.8Mn.sub.0.2Co.sub.0.016Ti.sub.0.0046O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 3

[0059] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. adding 48.18 kg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 2.319 kg of tungsten oxide, 2 kg of cobalt carbonate and 100 kg nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 15 μm (available from Guangdong Yingde Jiana Energy Company) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 830° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 15 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into a sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 30 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0060] Coating treatment. The first sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 100 kg of deionized water and 25.4 kg of rubidium carbonate solution (mixing rubidium carbonate with water in a ratio of 1:10) are added, mixed for 40 min, and filtered to obtain a filter cake.

[0061] Second sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 700° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 15 L/min. The coated filter cake is loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 9 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0062] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.06Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1Co.sub.0.02W.sub.0.01Rb.sub.0.02O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 4

[0063] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 46.06 kg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate and 100 kg of nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.85Mn.sub.0.15(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 2.0 μm (available from Guizhou Zhongwei Zhengyuan New Materials Co. Ltd.) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0064] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 840° C., oxygen is introduced, with the oxygen flow rate of 10 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into the equipment to perform a first sintering, maintaining the temperature for 16 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0065] Second sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 800° C., oxygen is introduced, with the oxygen flow rate of 8 L/min. The obtained first sintering semi-finished product is loaded into the 36-meter orbital kiln for a second sintering, maintaining the temperature constant for 18 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill and then demagnetized to obtain a second sintering semi-finished product.

[0066] Coating treatment. The second sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 100 kg of deionized water is added. The mixture is stirred for 10 min, suction filtered and dried. The dried semi-finished product is placed into a fusion machine for stirring, with 1.77 kg of ammonium heptamolybdate added and mixed for 30 min.

[0067] Third sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 600° C., oxygen is introduced, with the oxygen flow rate of 5 L/min. The coated materials are loaded into the 36-meter orbital kiln for the third sintering, maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature for 10 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0068] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.04Ni.sub.0.85Mn.sub.0.15Mo.sub.0.01O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 5

[0069] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 46.94 kg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate and 100 kg of nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.85Mn.sub.0.15(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 14.0 μm (available from Guizhou Zhongwei Zhengyuan New Materials Co. Ltd.) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0070] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 810° C., oxygen is introduced, with the oxygen flow rate of 12 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into the equipment to perform a first sintering, maintaining the temperature for 12 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0071] Coating treatment. The first sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 100 kg of deionized water is added. The mixture is stirred for 20 min, suction filtered and dried. The dried semi-finished product is placed into a fusion machine for stirring, with 0.4 kg of boron trioxide added and mixed for 30 min.

[0072] Second sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 400° C., oxygen is introduced, with the oxygen flow rate of 5 L/min. The coated materials are loaded into the 36-meter orbital kiln for the third sintering, maintaining the temperature at a constant temperature for 5 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0073] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.06Ni.sub.0.85Mn.sub.0.15B.sub.0.005O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 6

[0074] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 29.07 kg of anhydrous lithium hydroxide, 2.95 kg of strontium carbonate and 100 kg nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.95Mn.sub.0.05(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 8.0 μm (available from Guangdong Yingde Jiana Energy Company) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0075] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 790° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 10 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into a sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 40 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0076] Coating treatment. The first sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 100 kg of deionized water and 28.5 kg of magnesium acetate solution (mixing magnesium acetate with water in a ratio of 1:10) are added, mixed for 60 min, and filtered to obtain a filter cake.

[0077] Second sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 680° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 10 L/min. The coated filter cake is loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 5 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0078] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.14Ni.sub.0.95Mn.sub.0.05Sr.sub.0.02Mg.sub.0.02O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP of.

EXAMPLE 7

[0079] Material mixing. It starts to stir in a 200L plow mixer. 48.18 kg of lithium hydroxide monohydrate, 1.9 kg of strontium carbonate and 100 kg nickel manganese hydroxide precursor Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1(OH).sub.2 with a particle size D.sub.v50 of 3.5 μm (available from Guangdong Yingde Jiana Energy Company) are added, and stirred for 2 hours for later use.

[0080] First sintering. With a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 860° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 15 L/min. The mixed materials are loaded into a sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 35 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with a jet mill to obtain a first sintering semi-finished product.

[0081] Second sintering: With the a 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 750° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 15 L/min. The first sintering semi-finished product is loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 7 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature and are pulverized with the jet mill to obtain a second sintering semi-finished product.

[0082] Coating treatment. The second sintering semi-finished product is placed into a stirring tank. It starts to stir. 100 kg of deionized water and 8.4 kg of aluminium nitrate nonahydrate solution (mixing aluminium nitrate nonahydrate and water in a ratio of 1:5) are added, mixed for 40 min, and filtered to obtain a filter cake.

[0083] Third sintering. With the 36-meter roller kiln, the temperature is set to 700° C., oxygen is introduced, and the gas flow rate is 15 L/min. The coated filter cake are loaded into the sagger and transmitted into the roller kiln for sintering, and the constant temperature time is 9 hours. The materials are cooled to room temperature, pulverized with the jet mill, demagnetized and sieved to obtain a cathode material.

[0084] The chemical formula of the above-mentioned cathode material is Li.sub.1.1Ni.sub.0.9Mn.sub.0.1Sr.sub.0.015Al.sub.0.003O.sub.2 obtained by digesting with dilute hydrochloric acid and detecting nucleic acid with ICP.

EXAMPLE 8

[0085] The cathode materials obtained in Example 3 and Example 7 are mixed at a mass ratio of 1:1 to obtain a mixed cathode material.

EXAMPLE 9

[0086] The cathode materials obtained in Example 3 and Example 7 are mixed at a mass ratio of 7:3 to obtain a mixed cathode material.

Experimental ExampleE 1

[0087] The performance parameters of the high-nickel cathode materials prepared in Examples 1-9 are determined according to the following method.

(1) Method for Measuring Pore Size Distribution Curve

[0088] In a Mac automatic specific surface and porosity analyzer (TriStar II 3020), 4 g of the cathode powder material is placed in a sample tube for measurement and degassed at 200° C. for 1 h, thereby sufficiently removing water from the measurement sample. Next, isotherms on the adsorption side and the desorption side are determined by a nitrogen adsorption method using liquid nitrogen in a range of a relative pressure P/Po (Po=about 665 mmHg) of 0.01 to 0.995. The pore size distribution curve is obtained from the pore diameter as the abscissa and the pore volume as the ordinate calculated by the BJH method using the isotherm on the desorption side. The pore size distribution curve of the high-nickel cathode material prepared in Example 7 is shown in FIG. 1. The pore size distribution curve is shown in FIG. 1. It can be seen from FIG. 1 that there is a single peak in the pore size range of 1.5-20 nm on the pore size distribution curve. The pore size ranges of the high-nickel cathode material prepared from Examples 1-9 and results of single point adsorption total pore volumes with a pore size of 1.5-20 nm are shown in Table 3.

(2) Determination Method of Specific Surface Area

[0089] The specific surface area in the present invention is determined gravimetrically by reference to GB/T 19587-2004 Gas Adsorption BET Method, as determined by the Mac Automatic Specific Surface and Porosity Analyzer (TriStar II 3020). The results are shown in Table 3.

(3) Determination Method of Particle Size

[0090] The particle size in the present invention is determined by GB/T19077-2016 Particle Size Analysis-Laser Diffraction Method by Malvern, master Size 2000 Laser Particle Size Analyzer. 1 g of powder is added into 60 ml of pure water, exceeding 5 min. The sample is poured into a sampler for the test and recording the test data. The test results are shown in Table 3.
Master Size 2000 laser particle size analyzer, has a detection angle of 0-135° and the test principle of Mie theory, with external ultrasonic intensity 40 KHz 180 w, particle refractive index 1.692, particle absorption rate 1, sample test time 6 s, background test snap number 6,000 times, and obscuration degree 8-12%.

(4) XRD Test Method

[0091] X′ Pert PRO MPD analyzer, light pipe-Cu target material, wavelength 1.54060, Be window; incident light path-soller slit 0.04 rad, divergence slit 1/2°, shading plate 10 mm, anti-divergence slit 1°; diffraction light path-anti-divergence slit 8.0 mm, soller slit 0.04 rad, large Ni filter; scan range 10°-80°, scan step size 0.013°, dwell time 30.6 s per step, voltage 40 kV, current 40 mA, analysis software High-Score Plus. The X-ray diffraction pattern of the high-nickel cathode material obtained in Example 6 is shown in FIG. 2. The test results of half-peak width FWHM (101) corresponding to the diffraction peak close to (101) the diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° for the high-nickel cathode materials obtained in Examples 1 to 9 are shown in Table 3.

(5) Method for Testing Tap Density

[0092] m (50 g±0.5 g) powder is weighed and filled into the measuring cylinder 100 ml. The bottom of measuring cylinder fully filled with materials. The scale on the upper edge of materials is read and recorded as V.sub.1. The measuring cylinder filled with powder is placed on the BT-303 tapping equipment for fixation, and setting the parameters: the amplitude 3±0.1 mm, and the number of vibrations 3000. The equipment is started. After the end of the vibrations, the measuring cylinder is removed. The upper edge scale V.sub.2 of the powder is read, and the tap density=(V.sub.1-V.sub.2)/m. The test results are shown in Table 3.

(6) Test Method for Total Free Lithium Content

[0093] 30 g±0.01 g sample is accurately weighed. The sample is put into a 250 ml conical flask which is put into a magnetic stirrer and added with 100 ml deionized water. The conical flask is placed on the magnetic stirrer which is turned for stirring for 30 minutes. The mixed solution is filtered with a hardened filter paper and a funnel. 50 ml filtrate is transfered by a 50 ml pipette and put into a 100 ml beaker, with a magnet added in. The beaker is placed on the magnetic stirrer, with 2 drops of phenolphthalein indicator added in. It is titrated with 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid standard volumetric solution until the color of solution changes from red to colorless, and the volume V.sub.1 of 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid standard volumetric solution (endpoint 1) is recorded. 2 drops of methyl red indicator is added, with the color of indicator changed from colorless to yellow. It is titrated with 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid standard titration solution until the color of solution changes from yellow to orange. The beaker is placed on a heating furnace and heated until the solution boils (the color of the solution changes from orange to yellow). The beaker is removed and cooled to room temperature. The beaker is placed on the magnetic stirrer and titrated with 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid standard volumetric solution until the color of solution changes from yellow to light red, and the volume V.sub.2 of 0.05 mol/L hydrochloric acid standard volumetric solution (endpoint 2) is recorded. The amount of free total lithium is calculated according to the following formula, and the test results are shown in Table 3.
Total amount of free lithium)=V.sub.2×0.05×6.94×2×100%/(m×1000);
The unit of total amount of free lithium is quality percentage(%);
M is the mass of the sample, the unit of m is g;
V.sub.2 is a second titration endpoint,the unit of V.sub.2 is mL;
6.94 is the atomic weight of lithium.

TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Performance parameters test results for the preparation of high-nickel cathode materials in Examples 1-9 Single point Total adsorption Tap Specific lithium Particle Pore size total pore density FWHM surface area amount size range nm volume, g/cm.sup.3 g/cm.sup.3 (101) m.sup.2/g ppm μm Example 1 1.7-18.3 0.0043 1.93 0.133 0.95 859 3.6 Example 2 1.9-18.4 0.0025 2.06 0.112 0.85 783 4.0 Example 3 1.8-18.4 0.0016 2.38 0.118 0.35 1083 17.3 Example 4 1.8-18.3 0.0015 2.11 0.126 0.61 680 4.5 Example 5 1.7-18.2 0.0016 2.35 0.093 0.33 982 15.8 Example 6 1.8-18.3 0.0024 2.29 0.114 0.38 821 10.3 Example 7 1.8-18.4 0.0022 2.07 0.129 0.78 891 3.5 Example 8 1.7-18.3 0.0026 2.42 0.131 0.68 985 13.4 Example 9 1.8-18.2 0.0023 2.39 0.125 0.52 1020 15.5

Experimental Example 2

[0094] Preparation and performance evaluation of lithium ion batteries

[0095] The 454261 soft pack battery is prepared as follows.

[0096] cathode preparation. The high-nickel cathode materials prepared in Examples 1-9 of the present invention, and conductive carbon black (S. P) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) as a binder in a weight ratio of 94:3:3 are added into N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP) (the weight ratio of cathode material to NMP is 2.1:1), mixed thoroughly, stirred to form a uniform slurry, coated on an aluminum foil current collector, dried and pressed into an electrode sheet.

Anode preparation. The anode artificial graphite, and conductive carbon black (S. P), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) and an adhesive (SBR) in a weight ratio of 95:1:1:3 are added into a sufficient amount of pure water, mixed, stirred to form a uniform slurry, coated on a copper foil current collector, dried and pressed into an electrode sheet.

[0097] The diaphragm is a PP/PE composite film material. The pressed positive and anode sheets are spot-welded with an electrode lug, inserted into a diaphragm, wound on a winding machine, loaded into a soft package fixture, subjected to top and side sealing, and then placed into an oven for baking. After that, 9 g of electrolyte is injected in an environment with a relative humidity of less than 1.5%, and the mass ratio of the electrolyte used is a mixed solvent of EC:DEC:DMC=1:1:1. The electrolyte is 1 M lithium hexafluorophosphate. With liquid injection, after formation for 48 hours, the vacuum sealing is performed. The cell model is 454261.

The battery is tested for performance on a Hankow cell tester according to the following method.

1) Capacity Test

[0098] The prepared soft pack battery is connected to the test frame and the test procedure starts. Setup steps. The test temperature is set to 25° C., standing for 4 h. It is charged at constant current and constant voltage for 4 h (such as 1/3 C, charged to 4.2V), paused, standing, discharged at constant current (such as 1/3 C, cut-off voltage 3.0V) so as to obtain the capacity under this current and voltage. The previous steps are repeated to obtain the capacity data under different current and voltage conditions.

2) Cycle Testing

[0099] The battery subjected to the above capacity test is connected to the test rack to start the test procedure. The setting steps include test temperature 45° C., standing for 4 hours, charging at constant current for 4 hours (such as 1 C, charged to 4.2V,or 1 C, charged to 4.3V), converting to constant voltage charge (such as 4.2V for 2 h, or 4.3V for 2 h), standing for 5 minutes, discharging at constant current for 4 hours (such as 1 C, cut-off voltage of 3.0V), and standing for 5 minutes. The previous steps of constant current charge are repeated for conducting cyclic test, so as to obtain the capacity retention rate with different voltage and different cycle times.

3) Cyclic DC Internal Resistance (DCR) Growth Test

[0100] In the step of cycle test described in 2), before the constant current discharge, a step of constant current discharge for 30 seconds is added (the voltage difference within 30 seconds is recorded and then divided by the current, so as to obtain DCR). The others are unchanged. By repeating the previous steps of constant current charging and performing the cycle test, the growth rate of DCR at different cycle times can be obtained (dividing the difference between DCR after this cycle and DCR after the first cycle by DCR after the first cycle), and the test results are shown in Table 4.

4) Rate Performance

[0101] The prepared soft pack battery is connected to the test frame and the test procedure starts. Setting steps includes setting the test temperature to 25° C., standing for 4 hours, charging to 4.2V at 1/3 C constant current and constant voltage, cutting off current to 0.02 C, pausing, standing, and discharging to 3.0 V at 1/3 C, recording the 1/3 C discharge specific capacity of the battery; standing for 4 hours, charging to 4.2V at 1 C constant current and constant voltage, cutting off current 0.02 C, pausing, standing, discharging to 3.0V at 1 C constant current, recording the 1 C discharge specific capacity of the battery; and standing for 4 hours, charging to 4.2V at 2 C constant current and constant voltage, cutting off current 0.02 C, pausing, standing, discharging to 3.0V at 2 C constant current, and recording the specific capacity of 2 C discharge.

TABLE-US-00004 TABLE 4 Cycle Performance Test Results Rate performance Capacity DCR growth (specific discharge Capacity retention ratio Capacity rate capacity, mAh/g) (mAh/g) 4.2 V-3.0 V, (mAh/g) 4.2 V-3.0 V, cathode 4.2 V-3.0 4.2 V-3.0 1 C, 45° C., 4.3 V-3.0 1 C, 45° C., material V, 2 C V, 1/3 C 200 cycles V, 1/3 C after 200 cycles BA-S1 Example 1 187.1 194.7 92.0% 203.7 30.0% BA-S2 Example 2 175.3 181.0 94.0% 195.2 27.3% BA-S3 Example 3 189.5 196.4 89.0% / 19.0% BA-S4 Example 4 180.8 187.0 94.0% 201.3 26.5% BA-S5 Example 5 181.7 189.4 90.0% / 19.4% BA-S6 Example 6 194.6 200.7 87.0% / 29.0% BA-S7 Example 7 187.3 193.6 94.0% 202.8 23.0% BA-S8 Example 8 189.6 194.3 92.0% / 21.8% BA-S9 Example 9 191.7 195.2 90.6% / 20.3%
It can be seen from Table 3 that the high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries prepared in Examples 1-9 of the present invention has a pore size of 1.5-20 nm and a single-point adsorption total pore volume within 0.0043 g/cm.sup.3 when measured by the nitrogen adsorption method. The cathode material is a porous structure with a pore size within a range of 1.7-19 nm. The high-nickel cathode material prepared in the present invention has a tap density of greater than 1.9 g/cm.sup.3, a specific surface area of 0.33-0.95 m.sup.2/g, and a D.sub.v50 particle size of 3.3-17.3 μm. The results of XRD diffraction shows that the cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.093-0.133 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern.

[0102] As can be seen from Table 4, the lithium ion battery prepared by the high-nickel cathode materials for the lithium ion batteries prepared in Examples 1-9 of the present invention has a capacity of 181-200.7 mAh/g at 1/3 C current and 4.2V, a specific discharge capacity of 175.3-194.6 mAh/g at 2 C current, a capacity retention of 87-94% after 200 cycles at 4.2V, and a DCR growth rate of 19-30% after 200 cycles at 4.2V. The high-nickel cathode material prepared in the present invention has a smaller pore size, provides more paths for the migration of lithium ions and has a shorter path, with a higher capacity and a better rate performance. The cathode material has a half-peak width FWHM (101) of 0.093-0.133 at a diffraction peak close to (101) a diffraction angle 2θ of 36.6° in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern, so that the material has a better structural stability, a better capacity retention rate and a less increase in direct current internal resistance. According to Examples 8 and 9 of the present invention, a mixture of cathode materials with different particle sizes, so that the tap density of the high-nickel cathode material for the lithium ion battery is improved more, the capacity and cycling performance are better matched, and the increase in direct current internal resistance is also smaller.

[0103] In summary, compared with a conventional cathode material for lithium ion batteries, a cobalt-free high-nickel cathode material for lithium ion batteries is obtained by adding a modifying element and at least two sintering and one coating treatments. The high-nickel cathode material has a unique porous structure and crystal structure, the porous structure of the cathode material provides more paths for the migration of lithium ions and has a shorter path, so that the lithium ion battery has not only a higher capacity and a good rate performance, but also the crystal structure enables the material to have a good structural stability. Therefore, during the charging and discharging process of the lithium ion battery, the capacity decline is reduced, the cycle performance is good, and the increase of direct current internal resistance is small. The capacity, rate and cycle performance of the cobalt-free cathode material are effectively balanced.

[0104] The above mentioned is only preferred embodiments of the invention and is not a limitation to the invention in any form. Any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement made in the spirit and principle of the invention shall be included in the scope of protection of the invention.