Cathode materials: LiNiO2 and related compounds

Abstract

The layered LiNiO 2 is expected to be a cathode material for the next generation of lithium-ion battery. Figure 16.1 shows the relationship between discharge capacity and voltage for cathode materials for the lithium-ion battery. It means that LiNiO2 has a higher capacity compared with other materials. In spite of this, LiNiO2 compounds have not been used in commercially available lithium-ion batteries. It is thought that LiNiO2 presents the following potential problems: Cycle characteristic Thermal stability Toda Kogyo Corporation is promoting the development for each cathode material for lithium-ion batteries depending on their use; for example, LiCoO2 for notebook personal computers and cellular phones; LiMn2O4 for hybrid electric vehicles (HEV); and LiNiO2 for high-capacity batteries. Special efforts are being made in the improvement of the above problems, i.e., cycle characteristics and thermal stability, for LiNiO2, so that this compound can be included in the market trend of lithium ion batteries. This chapter presents the results of the process development to improve the above-mentioned problem. © 2009 Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.