The invention relates to cathode materials based on a lithium-manganese spinel (LiMn ₂ 0 ₄ , LMO) synergetically modified with potassium and nickel (Lii- _x K _x Mn ₂ -yNiy0 ₄ , LKMNO, where 0.01 < x < 0.15 and 0.01 < y < 0.2), and to a method of preparation of such materials. Within its assumptions, the invention may be used for energy storage, particularly in lithium- ion (Li-ion) batteries.

Nowadays, mainly layered lithium-cobalt oxide (LiCo0 ₂ , LCO) and its derivatives are used as cathode materials in commercially available Li-ion batteries. However, LCO exhibits a limited practical capacity in its pure form, approx. 140 mAh/g. This is accompanied by a high price, toxicity of cobalt and safety reasons. Thus, application of a lithium-manganese spinel (LiMn ₂ 0 ₄ , LMO) seems to be a good alternative. This material has a similar practical capacity (approx. 140 mAh/g), is thermally stable, and additionally inexpensive and less environmentally burdensome [1-3]. A stoichiometric LMO spinel, although used commercially in battery packs for electric vehicles (EV), still has limited applications. Most of all, it is caused by its unstable crystalline structure at the operating temperature of the battery, and by solubility of manganese ions in the liquid electrolyte, both leading to a drop in the capacity and a deterioration of the battery life [4,5]. Methods for improvement of the spinel stability and electrochemical properties, i.a. by a modification of its chemical composition, are known in the literature. The approach applied most commonly consists in a partial substitution of Mn ³⁺ ions with other 3d transition metal ions, e.g. Ni, leading to a stabilisation of the spinel structure. Such materials (LMNO) are characterised by a capacity reaching approx. 140 mAh/g (under a current load of 1C); also, they may provide a high voltage in relation to lithium and a higher specific energy than LiMn ₂ 0 ₄ [6-10]. The effect of the LMO spinel doping in the lithium sublattice was also studied [11-13], however to a slight extent only. It was observed that a modification of spinel materials with potassium (LKMO) improves the cyclability and performance of the batteries under higher current loads. The potassium-substituted spinels have a capacity of approx. 135 mAh/g (1C). The third possibility of modification of the composition of the LMO-based spinels presented in the literature consists in a substitution in the anionic sublattice (LMOS, LMOF) [14-19]. Materials of such a type are stable and characterised by improved (in relation to the stoichiometric spinel LiMn ₂ 0 ₄ ) electrochemical properties, and have a capacity for the LMOS of at least 110 mAh/g (1C).

Our studies on spinel materials have proved unexpectedly that simultaneous doping of the LMO spinel in the lithium and manganese sublattices with potassium and nickel, leading to spinel materials with a general formula Lii- _x K _x Mn2-yNiy0 ₄ (LKMNO), where 0.01 < x < 0.15 and 0.01 < y < 0.2, does not lead to direct and simple adding of properties of the materials, characteristic for a given type of modification. In fact, the materials according to the invention exhibit completely new and surprising features. The synergetic effect of the introduction of potassium and nickel to the spinel structure causes an extraordinary, unexpected increase in the capacity, reaching up to 70% (in relation to the theoretical capacity of LiMn ₂ 0 ₄ , amounting to approx. 148 mAh/g), so far unobtainable by other materials based on the LMO spinel (at the present stage, the gravimetric capacity of the LKMNO system is at least 250 mAh/g under a current load of 1C, without optimisations of the electrode composition and thickness). Additionally, the materials being the subject of the invention are characterised by a high working potential (in the range of 4.0-4.7 V), an unusually high coulombic reversibility (more than 99%), as well as a cell operation efficiency under high-current conditions (possibility to transfer (without damage) current loads of the order of 100C-200C). Also, it is noteworthy that other attempts to use a combination of the aforementioned modifications have not given such an effect [20-23].

According to the invention, the LKMNO spinel systems are obtained by a sol-gel method [24-27], based on the processes of hydrolysis and condensation, enabling to obtain homogeneous products of a high purity in a nanometric form at low temperatures. Moreover, the proposed method for preparation of LKMNO materials is suitable for a wide scale use, unlike the majority of preparation techniques described in the literature, mostly for the economic reasons. In addition, preparation of LKMNO nanomaterials by the method of high- temperature reaction in the solid phase is impossible.

The invention relates to a method of preparation of an LKMNO cathode material (Lii- _x KxMn ₂ -yNiy0 ₄ , where 0.01 < x < 0.15 and 0.01 < y < 0.2) having a high energy density, wherein stoichiometric weighed amounts of lithium, potassium, manganese and nickel precursors are dissolved in a minimal amount of water, ensuring a total dissolution of the substrates, and simultaneously, a protective atmosphere of an inert gas is used, and then, an ammonia solution having a concentration of 15-28% is introduced to the solution, until a pH value in the range of 8.5-11 is obtained, and next, after 30-60 min, the formed sol is subjected to polycondensation, aging and drying processes, until a xerogel is obtained, which is calcined subsequently in the temperature range of 200-900°C.

Preferably, lithium acetate, lithium nitrate(V), lithium hydroxide or lithium carbonate and hydrates thereof are used as lithium precursors. Preferably, potassium nitrate(V), potassium acetate, potassium hydroxide or potassium carbonate and hydrates thereof are used as potassium precursors.

Preferably, manganese(II) acetate or manganese(II) nitrate(V) and hydrates thereof are used as manganese precursors.

Preferably, nickel(II) acetate or nickel(II) nitrate(V) and hydrates thereof are used as nickel precursors.

Preferably, the steps up to the formation of the sol are carried out in the temperature range of 10-50°C in an atmosphere of an inert gas selected from argon, nitrogen or helium.

Preferably, the polycondensation, aging and drying processes are carried out in the atmosphere of air or synthetic air for 24-96 h at a temperature of 60-105°C.

Preferably, the xerogel calcination process is carried out in two steps in the temperature range of 200-900°C in the atmosphere of air or synthetic air.

The invention includes also the LKMNO cathode material obtained by the process described above.

Therefore, the key novel feature of the filed application consists in a combination of the sol-gel preparation method applied and the synergetic modification of the chemical composition of the LMO spinel using proper contents of the dopants, namely potassium and nickel, which leads to a significant and unexpected improvement of the utility parameters of lithium batteries. None of the modifications of the LMO spinel material presented so far allowed for obtaining such results, as well as the LKMOS, LMNOS, LKMNOS combinations obtained by the sol-gel technique which were tested by us.

The subject of the invention is described in more detail in the following embodiments. Example 1 (comparative):

To obtain 10 g of the Li0.9K0.1Mn2O3.99S0.01 (LKMOS) spinel material, 4.9835 g of lithium acetate dihydrate, 0.5510 g of potassium nitrate(V), and 26.6166 g of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate were weighed. The weighed amounts of the substrates were transferred quantitatively to a reactor (atmosphere: Ar, 99.999%) and dissolved in approx. 50 ml of distilled water. After the dissolution of the substrates, 28.74 g of 25% ammonia solution earlier mixed with 188 μΐ of 20% ammonium sulphide solution, were added to the solution. After approx. 30 min, the formed sol was transferred to ceramic crucibles and dried at a temperature of 90°C for 3-4 days. The obtained xerogel was calcined first at a temperature of 300°C for 24 h (heating rate of l°C/min), and the product of the first calcination was then calcined again at 650°C for 6 h (heating rate of 5°C/min). Both calcinations were carried out in the atmosphere of air.

The obtained spinel was characterised by a nanometric size of the crystallites (D _XRD = 32 nm). It was proved that an introduction of potassium and sulphur to the LMO spinel structure contributed into a stabilisation of the structure and elimination of an unfavourable phase transformation (characteristic for the stoichiometric LMO spinel) near room temperature, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. The LKMOS material exhibited an electrical conductivity of 6.26· 10 ^"4 S/cm at a temperature of 25°C, and an electrical conductivity activation energy E _a = 0.22 eV. Electrochemical tests showed that the obtained material is characterised by a gravimetric capacity in relation to lithium reaching 132 mAh/g - after 40 cycles of operation under a current load of 1C.

Example 2 (comparative):

To obtain 10 g of the LiMm.9Nio.1O3.99So.01 (LMNOS) spinel material, 5.6254 g of lithium acetate dihydrate, 25.6776 g of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate, and 1.3722 g of nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate were weighed. The weighed amounts of the substrates were transferred quantitatively to a reactor (atmosphere: Ar, 99.999%) and dissolved in approx. 50 ml of distilled water. After the dissolution of the substrates, 29.37 g of 25% ammonia solution earlier mixed with 188 μΐ of 20% ammonium sulphide solution, were added to the solution. After approx. 30 min, the formed sol was transferred to ceramic crucibles and dried at a temperature of 90°C for 3-4 days. The obtained xerogel was calcined first at a temperature of 300°C for 24 h (heating rate of l°C/min), and the product of the first calcination was then calcined again at 650°C for 6 h (heating rate of 5°C/min). Both calcinations were carried out in the atmosphere of air.

The obtained spinel was characterised by a nanometric size of the crystallites (D _XRD = 48 nm). It was proved that an introduction of nickel and sulphur to the LMO spinel structure contributed into a stabilisation of the structure and elimination of an unfavourable phase transformation (characteristic for the stoichiometric LMO spinel) near room temperature, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. The LMNOS material exhibited an electrical conductivity of 5.97· 10 ^"5 S/cm at a temperature of 25°C and an electrical conductivity activation energy E _a = 0.32 eV. Electrochemical tests showed that the obtained material is characterised by a gravimetric capacity in relation to lithium reaching 129 mAh/g - after 40 cycles of operation under a current load of 1C. Example 3 (comparative):

To obtain 10 g of the Li0.99K0.01Mm.9Ni0.1O3.99S0.01 (LKMNOS) spinel material, 5.5598 g of lithium acetate dihydrate, 0.0557 g of potassium nitrate(V), 25.6352 g of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate and 1.3699 g of nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate were weighed. The weighed amounts of the substrates were transferred quantitatively to a reactor (atmosphere: Ar, 99.999%) and dissolved in approx. 50 ml of distilled water. After the dissolution of the substrates, 29.33 g of 25% ammonia solution previously mixed with 188 μΐ of 20% ammonium sulphide solution, were added to the solution. After approx. 30 min, the formed sol was transferred to ceramic crucibles and dried at a temperature of 90°C for 3-4 days. The obtained xerogel was calcined first at a temperature of 300°C for 24 h (heating rate of l°C/min), and the product of the first calcination was then calcined again at 650°C for 6 h (heating rate of 5°C/min). Both calcinations were carried out in the atmosphere of air.

The obtained spinel was characterised by a nanometric size of the crystallites (D _XRD = 49 nm). It was proved that an introduction of potassium, nickel and sulphur to the LMO spinel structure contributed into a stabilisation of the structure and elimination of an unfavourable phase transformation (characteristic for the stoichiometric LMO spinel) near room temperature, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. The LKMNOS material exhibited an electrical conductivity of 4.26· 10 ^"5 S/cm at a temperature of 25°C and an electrical conductivity activation energy E _a = 0.32 eV. Electrochemical tests showed that the obtained material is characterised by a gravimetric capacity in relation to lithium reaching 108 mAh/g - after 30 cycles of operation under a current load of 1C.

Example 4

To obtain 10 g of the Lio.99Ko.01Mm.9Nio.1O-l· (LKMNO) spinel material, 5.5635 g of lithium acetate dihydrate, 0.0557 g of potassium nitrate(V), 25.6533 g of manganese(II) acetate tetrahydrate, and 1.3709 g of nickel(II) acetate tetrahydrate were weighed. The weighed amounts of the substrates were transferred quantitatively to a reactor (atmosphere: Ar, 99.999%) and dissolved in approx. 50 ml of distilled water. After the dissolution of the substrates 29.33 g of 25% ammonia solution were added to the solution. After approx. 30 min, the formed sol was transferred to ceramic crucibles and dried at a temperature of 90°C for 3-4 days. The obtained xerogel was calcined first at a temperature of 300°C for 24 h (heating rate of l°C/min), and the product of the first calcination was then calcined again at 650°C for 6 h (heating rate of 5°C/min). Both calcinations were carried out in the atmosphere of air. The obtained spinel was characterised by a nanometric size of the crystallites (D _XRD = 52 nm). It was proved that an introduction of potassium and nickel to the LMO spinel structure contributed into a stabilisation of the structure and elimination of an unfavourable phase transformation (characteristic for the stoichiometric LMO spinel) near room temperature, which was confirmed by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) tests. The LKMNO material exhibited an electrical conductivity of 1.22· 10 ^"4 S/cm at a temperature of 25°C and an electrical conductivity activation energy E _a = 0.35 eV. Electrochemical tests showed that the obtained material is characterised by a gravimetric capacity in relation to lithium of at least 250 mAh/g - after 80 operation cycles under a current load of 1C.

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