PHOSPHATE COMPOUNDS SUITABLE FOR THE PRODUCTION OF CATHODES FOR LI-ION BATTERIES

Abstract

A crystalline, amorphous or mixed crystalline and amorphous phosphate compound of the type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O with 0<a<1, 0<b<1, 0<c<1, 0<d<1, a+b+c+d=1 and 0<x<8, wherein M1, M2 and M3 are metals selected from Mn, Fe, Co or Ni, and M4 is one or more metals selected from Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr or La and process for the production thereof.

Claims

1. A process for the production of crystalline, amorphous or mixed crystalline-amorphous phosphate compounds of the type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O with 0a1, 0b1, 0c1, 0d1, a+b+c+d=1 and 0x8, wherein M1, M2 and M3 are metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, and M4 is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr and La, comprising: a) preparing a first aqueous solution (I), which contains divalent cations of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 and carboxylate anions, wherein at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 is dissolved in elementary form or in the form of alloys thereof in carboxylic acid (HX) or an aqueous solution of carboxylic acid (HX), and optionally at least one further metal M4 is added in the form of a metal compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates, hydroxide carbonates, carboxylates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates, wherein the addition is effected in the form of an aqueous solution of the metal compound or as a solid; b) preparing a second phosphoric acid aqueous solution (II), with a phosphoric acid concentration in the range of 5 to 85% by weight, which optionally contains divalent cations of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3, wherein the divalent cations are introduced into the solution by dissolving at least one oxygen-bearing metal compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates and hydroxide carbonates of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 in aqueous phosphoric acid, and optionally at least one further metal M4 is added in the form of a metal compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates, hydroxide carbonates, carboxylates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates, wherein the addition is effected in the form of an aqueous solution of the metal compound or as a solid; and c) combining the solutions (I) and (II) with precipitation of the phosphate compound of type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O.

2. The process according to claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid (HX) in step a) is selected from the group consisting of formic acid, acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, valeric acid, hexanoic acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, nonanoic acid, decanoic acid and acrylic acid.

3. The process according to claim 1, wherein the carboxylic acid (HX) in step a) is used in the form of an aqueous solution with a concentration of 5 to 50% by weight of carboxylic acid.

4. The process according to claim 1, wherein in step c) the solutions (I) and (II) are combined with precipitation of the phosphate compound of type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O by providing an amount of the solution (I) or (II) and meteredly adding the respective other solution (II) or (I) to the provided solution.

5. The process according to claim 1, wherein a carbon source is admixed to one or both of the solutions (I) or (II) before combination in step c) or upon combination of the solutions (I) and (II) in step c) a carbon source is admixed in the form of a separate solution, dispersion or suspension, wherein the carbon source is selected from the group consisting of elementary carbon, organic compounds or mixtures thereof.

6. The process according to claim 1, wherein the phosphoric acid aqueous solution (II) is produced with a phosphoric acid concentration in the range of 5 to 70% by weight.

7. The process according to claim 1, wherein combination of the solutions (I) and (II) with precipitation of the phosphate compound of type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O in step c) is carried out at a temperature of the solutions (I) and (II) in the range of 15 C. to 90 C.

8. The process according to claim 1, wherein the phosphate compound precipitated in step c) of type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O is separated off by filtration, centrifuging or sedimentation from the solution and the solution (filtrate, centrifugate) freed of the precipitated phosphate compound is returned to step a) of the process.

9. The process according to claim 1, wherein undissolved solids are separated from the first aqueous solution (I) produced in step a), the second phosphoric acid aqueous solution (II) produced in step b) or from both solutions (I) and (II) prior to combination in step c).

10. The process according to claim 1, wherein the concentration of the metals of M1, M2 and M3 in the first aqueous solution (I) is so adjusted that the solution (I) contains the metal ions before step c) in a concentration of 0.2 to 3.5 mol/l.

11. A crystalline, amorphous or mixed crystalline-amorphous phosphate compound of the type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O with 0a1, 0b1, 0c1, 0d1, a+b+c+d=1 and 0x8, wherein M1, M2 and M3 are metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, and M4 is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr and La produced according to claim 1.

12. The phosphate compound according to claim 11, wherein the phosphate compound has a flaky morphology with a mean thickness of the crystallites of <500 nm.

13. The phosphate compound according to claim 11, wherein the phosphate compound has a content of sodium and potassium of respectively <300 ppm and/or the phosphate compound has a sulphur content of <300 ppm and/or the phosphate compound has a chlorine content of <300 ppm and/or the phosphate compound has a nitrate content of <300 ppm.

14. A method comprising producing cathode material for Li-ion batteries using the phosphate compound according to claim 11 as a precursor compound.

15. A process for the production of crystalline, amorphous or mixed crystalline-amorphous phosphate compounds of the type (M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d).sub.3(PO.sub.4).sub.2.xH.sub.2O with 0a1, 0b1, 0c1, 0d1, a+b+c+d=1 and 0x8, wherein M1, M2 and M3 are metals selected from the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni, and M4 is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Be, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Al, Zr and La, comprising: a) preparing a first aqueous solution (I) is prepared, which contains divalent cations of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 and carboxylate anions, wherein at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 is dissolved in elementary form or in the form of alloys thereof in carboxylic acid (HX) or an aqueous solution of carboxylic acid (HX), and optionally at least one further metal M4 is added in the form of a metal compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates, hydroxide carbonates, carboxylates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates, wherein the addition is effected in the form of an aqueous solution of the metal compound or as a solid; b) preparing a second phosphoric acid aqueous solution (II) is prepared, with a phosphoric acid concentration in the range of 5 to 85% by weight, which contains ammonium ions (NH.sub.4.sup.+), wherein the ammonium ions (NH.sub.4.sup.+) are introduced into the solution by the addition of ammonia or an ammonium salt and wherein the second phosphoric acid aqueous solution (II) optionally contains divalent cations of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3, wherein the divalent cations are introduced into the solution by dissolving at least one oxygen-bearing metal compound selected from hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates and hydroxide carbonates of at least one or more of the metals M1, M2 and M3 in aqueous phosphoric acid, and optionally at least one further metal M4 is added in the form of a metal compound selected from the group consisting of hydroxides, oxides, oxide hydroxides, oxide hydrates, carbonates, hydroxide carbonates, carboxylates, sulphates, chlorides and nitrates, wherein the addition is effected in the form of an aqueous solution of the metal compound or as a solid; and c) combining the solutions (I) and (II) are combined with precipitation of the phosphate compound of type NH.sub.4(M1.sub.aM2.sub.bM3.sub.cM4.sub.d)PO.sub.4.xH.sub.2O.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0057] FIG. 1a: Raster electron microscope image (REM) of the product of Example 1;

[0058] FIG. 1b: Powder X-ray diffraction diagram of the product of Example 1 with CuK -radiation, completely indexable in accordance with PDF 003-0426;

[0059] FIG. 2a: Raster electron microscope image (REM) of the product of Example 3;

[0060] FIG. 2b: Powder X-ray diffraction diagram of the product of Example 3 with CuK -radiation, completely indexable in accordance with PDF 003-0426;

[0061] FIG. 3a: Raster electron microscope image (REM) of the product of Example 5;

[0062] FIG. 3b: Powder X-ray diffraction diagram of the product of Example 5 with CuK -radiation, completely indexable in accordance with PDF 01-073-7353;

[0063] FIG. 3c: Voltammetric measurement of material from Example 5;

[0064] FIG. 3d: Constant current cyclisation of material from Example 5;

[0065] FIG. 4a: Raster electron microscope image (REM) of the product of Example 7;

[0066] FIG. 4b: Powder X-ray diffraction diagram of the product of Example 7 with CuK -radiation, completely indexable in accordance with PDF 001-089-7115;

[0067] FIG. 5a: Raster electron microscope image (REM) of the product of Example 8;

[0068] FIG. 5b: Powder X-ray diffraction diagram of the product of Example 8 with CuK -radiation, completely indexable in accordance with PDF 050-0554.