RE:RE:RE:RE:RE:Tesla and Jeff Dahmen - Patents for Single Crystal CAM I'm not saying that Tesla/Jeff Dahn single crystal cathode process is better that One Pot. But to suggest Tesla/Jeff Dahn don't have a patented process for single crystal cathode is ignorant.
[0009] Methods disclosed herein include a first lithiation step, wherein a lithium and an other metal component are present in a first lithium/other metal ratio of less than 1.0 and are sintered at a temperature between 800 and 950°C for a time period between 1 and 24 hours to obtain a first lithiated material. The method further includes a second lithiation step, wherein a lithium and a other metal component are present in a second lithium/other metal ratio and further wherein the first lithiated electrode material is sintered with additional LiOHTLO at between 650 and 760°C for a time period between 1 and 24 hours to obtain a second lithiated material.
[0010] In some embodiments, the first lithiated material comprises a product having the formula Li(i-x)[Nio.88Coo.o9Alo.o3](i+x)02.
[0011] In further embodiments, the first lithium/other metal ratio is about 0.6, about 0.7, about 0.8, 0.9, about 0.95, or about 0.975.
[0012] In yet other embodiments, during the second lithiation step, the first lithiated product is sintered for approximately 12 hours.
[0013] In some embodiments, the sum of the first lithium/other metal ratio and the second lithium/other metal ratio is between 1.0 and 1.03.
[0014] In further embodiments, the other metal component includes: Al, Ni, Co, Mn, Mg, or a combination of them. In other embodiments, the other metal component includes Ni, Co, and Al. In further embodiments, the other metal component includes Ni and Al.
[0015] According to certain embodiments provided herein, the present disclosure also provides an electrode formed using the methods described herein, and rechargeable batteries including the electrodes that are formed using the methods described herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1A shows Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images of the NCA(OH)2 precursor with a 4 pm scale bar shown and FIG. 1B shows SEM images of the resulting NCA(OH)2product with alO pm scale bar shown.
[0017] FIGs. 2a-21 show SEM images of the resulting product from a variety of first lithiation reactions with a 5 pm scale bar indicated. Shown in FIG. 2a is the result of a first lithiation reaction between NCA(OH)2 and LiOH*FhO at 950°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.95; FIG. 2b is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 900°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.95; FIG. 2c is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 875°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.95; FIG. 2d is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 850°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.975; FIG. 2e is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 950°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.90; FIG. 2f is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 900°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.925; FIG. 2g is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 875°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.925; FIG. 2h is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 850°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.95; FIG. 2i is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 950°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.80; FIG. 2j is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 900°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.90; FIG. 2k is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 875°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.90; and FIG. 21 is the result of a first lithiation reaction at 850°C with a Li/OM ratio of 0.90.
[0018] FIGs. 3a to 31 show SEM images of four series of two-step lithiation products with a 5pm scale bar indicated. FIGs. 3(a), 3(b), 3(c), and 3(d) show the four selected post first lithiation products whose products of the second lithiation reaction of FIG. 2i are shown with Li/OM ratio of 1.01 (see FIG. 3e) and 1.02 (see FIG. 3i); products of the second lithiation reaction FIG. 2j are shown with a Li/OM ratio of 1.01 (see FIG. 31) and 1.02 (see FIG. 3j); products of the second lithiation reaction of FIG. 2c) are shown with a Li/OM ratio of 1.01 (see FIG. 3g) and 1.02 (see FIG. 3k); and products of the second lithiation reaction of FIG. 2d are shown with a Li/OM ratio of 1.01 (see FIG. 3h) and 1.02 (see FIG. 31).