Enhanced Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide for EV Efficiency
23 patents in this list
Updated:
Lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) cathodes have emerged as promising candidates for electric vehicle batteries, offering theoretical energy densities above 650 Wh/kg. However, current implementations face stability challenges - particularly in cycle life where capacity retention drops below 80% after 1000 cycles, and thermal stability concerns arise at temperatures exceeding 150°C during high-rate charging.
The fundamental challenge lies in balancing the high energy density benefits of nickel-rich compositions against the structural stability and safety advantages of manganese-dominant materials.
This page brings together solutions from recent research—including composite cathode architectures with controlled particle densities, surface-modified active materials, and multi-phase oxide systems that combine spinel and layered structures. These and other approaches focus on practical implementations that can deliver both the energy density and durability demanded by electric vehicle applications.
1. Nonaqueous Electrolyte Battery with Controlled Electrode Particle Size and Pore Diameter Ratios
KABUSHIKI KAISHA TOSHIBA, 2023
Nonaqueous electrolyte battery with improved cycle life by balancing self-discharge between positive and negative electrodes. The battery uses a lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide positive electrode and a high-voltage negative electrode material. The battery design involves controlling the particle sizes and pore diameters of the positive and negative electrodes to reduce positive electrode overdischarge. The formula for particle size ratio is 3 A/B < 15 where A is the positive electrode particle size and B is the negative electrode particle size. The formula for pore diameter ratio is 1.5 a/b < 2.4 where a is the positive electrode pore diameter and b is the negative electrode pore diameter. This balances self-discharge between electrodes to prevent overdischarge of the positive electrode during cycling.
2. Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt Oxide Positive Electrode Material with Specific True Density Range
ENVISION AESC JAPAN LTD, 2018
Positive electrode active substance for lithium-ion batteries that improves cycle life and reduces capacity fade in large-format batteries like those used in electric vehicles. The active substance is a lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide with a specific true density range of 4.40 to 4.80 g/cm3. This density range prevents excessive expansion and contraction of the active material during charging and discharging that can cause cracking and capacity loss in large format batteries. The density range can be achieved by adjusting the metal composition and impurity doping levels in the active material.
3. Composite Positive Electrode with Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide for Lithium Secondary Batteries
GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD, 2014
Positive electrode for lithium secondary batteries that improves initial coulombic efficiency while maintaining safety compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries. The positive electrode contains a composite active material made of lithium manganese iron phosphate (LiMnFePO4) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNixMnyCozO2). The composite active material improves initial coulombic efficiency while keeping safety higher than using just one type of material. The composite active material is synthesized by mixing the precursors of LiMnFePO4 and LiNixMnyCozO2 and firing.
4. Composite Cathode Material Comprising NCO, Al-NCO, and NMC for Enhanced Thermal Stability
BASF CATALYSTS LLC, 2011
Positive electrode material for lithium-ion batteries that has improved thermal stability compared to conventional lithium nickel cobalt oxide (NCO) cathode materials. The material is a composite of NCO, aluminum-substituted NCO (Al-NCO), and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC). This composite cathode can be used in non-aqueous electrolyte lithium-ion batteries. The composite cathode has better thermal stability compared to NCO alone due to the Al-NCO and NMC components. This allows higher charging temperatures without degradation, enabling improved battery performance and safety.
5. Lithium Secondary Battery Positive Electrode Comprising Mixed Lithium Iron Manganese Phosphate and Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide
GS YUASA INTERNATIONAL LTD, 2011
Lithium secondary battery positive electrode with improved initial coulombic efficiency and safety for high energy density applications like electric vehicles. The electrode composition is a mixture of lithium iron manganese phosphate (LiMnxFe(1-x)PO4) and lithium nickel manganese cobalt composite oxide (LiNixMnyCozO2) in specific ratios. The lithium iron manganese phosphate has less than 100% manganese and less than 100% iron, and the lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide has less than 67% cobalt. This composition provides higher initial coulombic efficiency compared to using just one of the materials alone.
6. Lithium-Ion Battery Cathode Comprising Spinel Lithium Manganese Oxide with Anion Substitution and Lithium Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese Oxide Mixture
LG ENERGY SOLUTION LTD, 2010
High-power, long-life lithium-ion battery cathode with improved safety and lifespan for electric vehicles. The cathode active material is a mixture of two lithium oxides: a spinel lithium manganese oxide with some oxygen substituted by other anions, and a lithium nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide. The spinel substitution improves stability and lifespan, while the nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide enhances safety and capacity. Together they provide a balanced set of properties for EV batteries.
7. Nickel-Rich Lithium Nickel Oxide Cathode with Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide Particle Interface
LG CHEM LTD, LG CHEMICAL LTD, 2010
Improved lithium-nickel-based cathode materials for high energy density lithium-ion batteries that have better safety and stability compared to conventional lithium-nickel-oxide cathodes. The improved cathode contains nickel-rich lithium nickel oxide (LNO) particles with a unique physical contact between the LNO surface and lithium nickel manganese oxide (LNMO) particles. This contact helps prevent gas generation, swelling, and impurity accumulation issues that degrade battery performance and safety.
8. Lithium Secondary Battery with Mixed Spinel and Layered Oxide Positive Electrode Material
LG CHEMICAL LTD, 2010
High-power lithium secondary battery with improved safety and cycle life for electric vehicles. The battery uses a unique positive electrode active material made by mixing two lithium oxide composites: spinel-structured lithium manganese-metal oxide and layered-structured lithium nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide. The specific composition of the metal elements in each oxide is important for battery safety and cycle performance. This mixed active material provides superior safety, capacity retention, and cycle life compared to using just one of the oxides.
9. Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery with Composite Positive Electrode of Manganese-Based Spinel Oxide, Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese Layered Oxide, and Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt Layered Oxide
GS YUASA CORP, GS YUASA CORPORATION:KK, 2008
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with improved safety, energy density, and float life characteristics for large-size applications. The battery uses a positive electrode with three types of cathode materials: a manganese-based spinel oxide, a nickel-cobalt-manganese layered oxide, and a lithium-nickel-cobalt layered oxide. The compositions of these materials are optimized to balance safety, energy density, and float life.
10. Lithium-Ion Battery with Li4Ti5O12 Negative Electrode and LiFePO4 Positive Electrode Configuration
COMMISSARIAT A LENERGIE ATOMIQUE, 2007
A lithium-ion battery with improved energy density and cycling performance compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries using graphite as the negative electrode. The key innovation is replacing graphite with a different negative electrode material, lithium titanium oxide (Li4Ti5O12), which has higher capacity and stability compared to graphite. This allows higher current densities and faster charging without dendrite formation. The positive electrode uses a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) spinel oxide. The battery structure is a lithium-metal button cell with a lithium anode, Li4Ti5O12 negative electrode, LiFePO4 positive electrode, separator, and LiPF6 electrolyte.
11. Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide Cathode with Alkali Metal Substitution and Anion Modification
NISSAN MOTOR, NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD, 2007
Positive electrode material for lithium ion batteries that enables higher capacity, improved cycling stability, and lower resistance compared to conventional lithium cobalt oxide cathodes. The material is lithium nickel manganese oxide where a portion of the lithium layer is substituted with alkali or alkaline earth metals like sodium or magnesium. This substitution prevents structural changes during charging/discharging that can distort the crystal structure and increase resistance. It also allows lowering the valence of manganese to maintain conductivity while substituting oxygen with nitrogen or phosphorus to compensate for charge balance.
12. Lithium-Ion Battery with Specific Lithium Nickel Manganese Oxide Composition in Positive Electrode
SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD, 2007
A lithium-ion battery with improved charge/discharge efficiency and capacity using a specific composition of lithium nickel manganese oxide in the positive electrode. The lithium nickel manganese composite oxide has a formula Li[Li]xNiyMnzO2-a where 0 < x < 0.4, 0.12 < y < 0.5, 0.3 < z < 0.62, 0a < 0.5, and x, y, z satisfy certain relationships. Adding metal elements with valences of 4-6 further improves efficiency. This composition provides better initial charge/discharge efficiency and discharge capacity compared to conventional lithium nickel manganese oxides.
13. Lithium Secondary Battery with Layered Lithium-Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt Oxide and Lithium-Manganese Oxide Cathode
HITACHI LTD, 2007
Lithium secondary battery with improved cycle life and power density for electric vehicles. The battery has a cathode containing a layered lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt oxide compound, plus a layered lithium-manganese oxide distributed within it. This distribution suppresses volume changes of the cathode active material during charging/discharging, preventing capacity fade and crystal structure destabilization. The specific conditions for the layered oxides composition and distribution are provided to achieve optimal performance.
14. Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Secondary Battery with Lithium Manganese Cobalt Oxide and Lithium Nickel Cobalt/Aluminum Oxide Cathode Composition
NEC TOKIN CORP, 2007
Non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery with improved cycle life and storage characteristics at high temperatures by using specific compositions of lithium transition metal oxide cathode materials. The battery contains a combination of lithium manganese cobalt oxide (Li1+xCoyMn2-xyO4) and lithium nickel cobalt/aluminum oxide (LiNi1-xCoxO2 or LiNi1-xCoxAlyO2) as the cathode active materials. The weight ratio of these two oxides is 97:3 to 55:45. This composition improves cycle life and storage stability at elevated temperatures compared to using just lithium manganese oxide or lithium nickel oxide.
15. Lithium-Ion Battery with Mixed Spinel and Layered Oxide Positive Electrode Composition
LG Chem, Ltd., LG CHEM LTD, 2007
A high-power lithium-ion battery with improved cycle life and safety for electric vehicles. The battery uses a mixed positive electrode active material composed of a spinel lithium manganese oxide with substituted metals and lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide. The spinel lithium manganese oxide with substituted metals improves safety by reducing manganese dissolution compared to pure lithium manganese spinel. The lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide further enhances safety and cycle life. Mixing the two oxides in specific ratios provides optimal balance of safety, capacity, and cycle life for lithium-ion batteries.
16. Lithium Secondary Battery with Dual Cathode Active Materials and Large Particle Spinel Oxide
LG Chem, Ltd., LG CHEM LTD, 2007
A high power lithium secondary battery with improved life characteristics and stability even after repeated charging and discharging with a large current. The battery uses a positive electrode containing a mixture of two cathode active materials: a lithium manganese spinel oxide and a lithium nickel cobalt manganese composite oxide. The spinel oxide has an average particle size of 15 microns or larger. This improves battery life by reducing electrolyte decomposition and manganese dissolution compared to smaller particle sizes. The mixture of oxides provides better safety and life compared to using just one oxide.
17. Rechargeable Lithium Battery with R3m Space Group Transition Metal Oxide Positive Electrode
SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD, 2007
Rechargeable lithium battery with improved power characteristics over a wide charge range. The battery uses a specific composition of lithium-containing transition metal oxide in the positive electrode active material. The oxide has a crystal structure belonging to the R3m space group. It contains nickel and manganese with lithium as the first lithium-containing transition metal. This composition enables the battery to demonstrate high power homogeneity across a wide charge depth, making it suitable for applications like electric vehicles.
18. Secondary Battery with Composite Positive Electrode of Lithium Nickel Oxide and Lithium Manganese Oxide with Specified Particle Size Ratio and Composition
NISSAN MOTOR, NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD, 2006
A secondary battery with improved cycle life by using a specific composition of lithium nickel oxide and lithium manganese oxide as the positive electrode active material. The battery has smaller average particle size lithium nickel oxide compared to lithium manganese oxide, and a specific range of lithium nickel oxide content between 22-38 wt% of the total oxide mixture. This composition and particle size ratio significantly improves cycle life compared to using either oxide alone or without size differentiation.
19. Non-Aqueous Electrolyte Battery with Lithium-Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese Oxide Positive Electrode and Spinel Structure Lithium Manganese Oxide
SANYO ELECTRIC CO, SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD, 2006
Non-aqueous electrolyte battery with improved load/output characteristics for applications like electric vehicles and power tools. The battery uses a specific composition of positive electrode active material containing lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese oxides. The molar amounts of nickel and manganese in the oxide are regulated to be substantially equal, and the molar ratio of cobalt to all transition metals is 0.25-0.70. Adding lithium manganese oxide with a spinel structure further improves the load/output characteristics. This composition enables better lithium ion movement and diffusion for improved battery performance compared to standard lithium-nickel-manganese oxides.
20. Lithium Ion Secondary Battery with Lithium-Rich Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese Oxide Anode and Lithium-Rich Manganese Oxide Cathode
SANYO ELECTRIC CO LTD, 2005
A lithium ion secondary battery with improved output performance, particularly for high current charging and discharging. The battery uses a specific composition of lithium intercalation materials in the anode and cathode. The anode active material is a lithium-rich nickel-cobalt-manganese oxide. The cathode is a lithium-rich manganese oxide. This composition allows better lithium ion intercalation/deintercalation kinetics and capacity compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. It also enables improved output performance during high current charging and discharging. The specific compositions are LiNi1-x-yCoYMnO2 (0.5<x+y<1.0, 0.1<y<0.6) for the anode and (1+z)Mn2O4
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