Silicon oxide based high capacity anode materials for lithium ion batteries

Abstract

Silicon oxide based materials, including composites with various electrical conductive compositions, are formulated into desirable anodes. The anodes can be effectively combined into lithium ion batteries with high capacity cathode materials. In some formulations, supplemental lithium can be used to stabilize cycling as well as to reduce effects of first cycle irreversible capacity loss. Batteries are described with surprisingly good cycling properties with good specific capacities with respect to both cathode active weights and anode active weights.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A lithium ion battery comprising a positive electrode comprising a lithium metal oxide, a negative electrode comprising a silicon oxide based active material, and a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, wherein after 50 charge-discharge cycles between 4.5V and 1.0V, the battery exhibits at least about 750 mAh/g discharge capacity from negative electrode active material and at least about 150 mAh/g discharge capacity from positive electrode active material at a rate of C/3. 
     
     
         2 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the silicon oxide based active material comprises silicon oxide with the structure of SiO x , 0.1≦x≦1.5. 
     
     
         3 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the silicon oxide based active material comprises a silicon oxide carbon composite composition. 
     
     
         4 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 3  wherein the silicon oxide carbon composite composition comprises elemental silicon. 
     
     
         5 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the negative electrode further comprises pyrolytic carbon. 
     
     
         6 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the silicon oxide based active material has a volume average particle size of not more than about 8 microns. 
     
     
         7 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the negative electrode further comprises carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         8 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the negative electrode further comprises graphite powder. 
     
     
         9 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  further comprising supplemental lithium corresponding to at least about 10% of the negative electrode capacity. 
     
     
         10 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein after 50 charge-discharge cycles between 4.5V and 1.0V at a C/3 rate, the battery exhibits at least about 800 mAh/g discharge capacity from negative electrode active material and at least about 160 mAh/g discharge capacity from positive electrode active material. 
     
     
         11 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 1  wherein the positive electrode comprises a lithium metal oxide approximately represented by the formula Li 1+b Ni α Mn β Co γ A δ O 2−z F z , where b ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.3, α ranges from about 0 to about 0.4, β range from about 0.2 to about 0.65, γ ranges from 0 to about 0.46, δ ranges from 0 to about 0.15 and z ranges from 0 to about 0.2 with the proviso that both α and γ are not zero, and where A is Mg, Sr, Ba, Cd, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb, Cr, Fe, V, Li or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . A lithium ion battery comprising a positive electrode comprising a lithium metal oxide, a negative electrode, a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte comprising lithium ions and a halogenated carbonate, wherein the negative electrode comprises silicon oxide based active material and wherein the battery discharge capacity decrease by no more than about 15 percent at the 50th discharge cycle relative to the 7th discharge cycle when discharged at a rate of C/3 from the 7th discharge to the 50th discharge. 
     
     
         13 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the silicon oxide based active material comprises a silicon oxide carbon composite composition. 
     
     
         14 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the negative electrode comprises silicon oxide with the structure of SiO x , 0.1≦x≦1.5. 
     
     
         15 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 5 volume percent to about 25 volume percent fluoroethylene carbonate, fluorinated vinyl carbonate, monochloro ethylene carbonate, monobromo ethylene carbonate, 4-(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropoxymethyl)-[1,3]dioxolan-2-one, 4-(2,3,3,3-tetrafluoro-2-trifluoro methyl-propyl)-[1,3]dioxolan-2-one, 4-trifluoromethyl-1,3-dioxolan-2-one, bis(2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-propyl) carbonate, bis(2,2,3,3,3-pentafluoro-propyl) carbonate, or mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the electrolyte comprises from about 5 volume percent to about 25 volume percent fluoroethylene carbonate, and wherein the negative electrode has a specific discharge capacity of at least about 700 mAh/g at a rate of C/3 based on anode's mass discharged from 4.5V to 0.5V. 
     
     
         17 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the negative electrode further comprises carbon nanofibers. 
     
     
         18 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  wherein the negative electrode further comprises graphite powder. 
     
     
         19 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  further comprising supplemental lithium corresponding to at least about 10% of the negative electrode capacity. 
     
     
         20 . The lithium ion battery of  claim 12  the positive electrode comprises a lithium metal oxide approximately represented by the formula Li 1+b Ni α Mn β Co γ A δ O 2−z F z , where b ranges from about 0.01 to about 0.3, α ranges from about 0 to about 0.4, β range from about 0.2 to about 0.65, γ ranges from 0 to about 0.46, δ ranges from 0 to about 0.15 and z ranges from 0 to about 0.2 with the proviso that both α and γ are not zero, and where A is Mg, Sr, Ba, Cd, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb, Cr, Fe, V, Li or combinations thereof.