Cathode materials for secondary (rechargeable) lithium batteries

Abstract

The invention relates to materials for use as electrodes in an alkali-ion secondary (rechargeable) battery, particularly a lithium-ion battery. The invention provides transition-metal compounds having the ordered-olivine or the rhombohedral NASICON structure and the polyanion (PO 4 ) 3− as at least one constituent for use as electrode material for alkali-ion rechargeable batteries.

1 - 61 . (canceled) 
     
     
         62 . A synthesized cathode material for a rechargeable electrochemical cell having an ordered olivine structure having a plurality of planes defined by zigzag chains and a plurality of planes defined by linear chains, the zigzag chains occupied by one or more first row transition metal cations and the linear chains occupied by Lithium cations. 
     
     
         63 . The synthesized cathode material of  claim 62 , wherein the cathode material comprises a compound having the general formula LiMPO 4 , wherein M comprises Fe, Mn, Ti, or Ni, optionally wherein M is partially substituted with at least one other metal. 
     
     
         64 . The synthesized cathode material of  claim 63 , wherein the cathode material is LiFePO 4 . 
     
     
         65 . The synthesized cathode material of  claim 64 , wherein Fe is partially substituted with at least one other metal. 
     
     
         66 . The synthesized cathode material of  claim 65 , wherein about 1% or less of the Fe is substituted with one other metal.