Lithium manganese compounds and methods of making the same

Abstract

Electrode materials such as Li x MnO 2 where 0.2<x≦2 compounds for use with rechargeable lithium ion batteries can be formed by mixing LiMn 2 O 4 compounds or manganese dioxide compounds with lithium metal or stabilized and non-stabilized lithium metal powders.

1 . A method of forming a lithiated electrode material, comprising mixing an electrolytic manganese dioxide (EMD) compound with lithium metal to produce a lithiated electrolytic manganese dioxide material wherein the crystalline structure of the EMD compound is maintained. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal comprises a lithium metal powder. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the lithium metal powder comprises a stabilized lithium metal powder. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electrolytic manganese dioxide compound comprises a heat treated electrolytic manganese dioxide compound. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein mixing the electrolytic manganese dioxide compound with lithium metal comprises ball milling the electrolytic manganese dioxide compound with lithium metal wherein the lithium metal is incrementally added. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein ball milling the electrolytic manganese dioxide compound with lithium metal further comprises ball milling the electrolytic manganese dioxide compound with lithium metal in the presence of a solvent. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting of acyclic hydrocarbons, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, symmetrical ethers, unsymmetrical ethers, and cyclic ethers. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the electrolytic manganese compound is doped with a dopant selected from the group consisting of cobalt, nickel, titanium, zirconium, and chromium and any combinations thereof.