ZrO₂- and Li₂ZrO₃-Stabilized Spinel and Layered Electrodes for Lithium Batteries

M. M. Thackeray,^a C. S. Johnson,^a J. -S. Kim,^a K. C. Lauzze,^a J. T. Vaughey,^a N. Dietz,^a D. Abraham,^a S. A. Hackney,^b W. Zeltner,^c and M. A. Anderson^c

^aElectrochemical Technology Program, Chemical Engineering Division, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA ^bDepartment of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, Michigan Technological University, Houghton, MI 49931, USA ^cEnvironmental Chemistry and Technology Program, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706, USA

Strategies for countering the solubility of LiMn₂O₄ (spinel) electrodes at 50°C and for suppressing the reactivity of layered LiMO₂ (M=Co, Ni, Mn, Li) electrodes at high potentials are discussed. Surface treatment of LiMn₂O₄ with colloidal zirconia (ZrO₂) dramatically improves the cycling stability of the spinel electrode at 50°C in Li/LiMn₂O₄ cells. ZrO₂-coated LiMn_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ electrodes provide a superior capacity and cycling stability to uncoated electrodes when charged to a high potential (4.6 V vs Li⁰). The use of Li₂ZrO₃, which is structurally more compatible with spinel and layered electrodes than ZrO₂ and which can act as a Li⁺-ion conductor, has been evaluated in composite 0.03Li₂ZrO_0.5Ni_0.5O₂ electrodes; glassy Li_xZrO_..x/2 (0<x2) products can be produced from colloidal ZrO₂ for surface coatings.

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