阅读说明：本技术 用于锂二次电池的正极活性材料及包括其的锂二次电池 (Positive active material for lithium secondary battery and lithium secondary battery including the same ) 是由 崔文豪 许京宰 庾炫钟 朴正培 邢恩星 于 2019-09-06 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种用于锂二次电池的正极活性材料及包括其的锂二次电池。根据本发明的正极活性材料可以减小与电解液之间发生副反应的二次粒子的比表面积和晶粒边界表面,从而改善正极活性材料的高温稳定性并减少由正极活性材料产生的气体。(The present invention relates to a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same. The cathode active material according to the present invention can reduce the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of secondary particles that undergo a side reaction with an electrolyte, thereby improving the high-temperature stability of the cathode active material and reducing gas generated from the cathode active material.)

1. A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery, which is a positive electrode active material comprising a plurality of secondary particles composed of primary particles, the primary particles being a lithium-based composite oxide having a single crystal structure, the positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery being characterized in that,

among the plurality of secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material, a proportion of secondary particles having a grain boundary density of 0.5 or less is 30% or more:

grain boundary density (number of interfaces between primary particles in secondary particles/number of primary particles constituting secondary particles).

2. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the primary particles constituting the secondary particles have lithium ion diffusion paths in equal directions in a long axis direction.

3. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the lithium-based composite oxide is represented by the following chemical formula 1:

[ chemical formula 1]

Li_uNi_1-(v+w+x+y)Co_vM1_wM2_xM3_yO_z

Wherein M1 is Mn or Al, M2 and M3 are each independently selected from Al, Ba, B, Ce, Cr, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, K, P, Sr, Ti, W and Zr, and are metals different from each other.

(0.95≤u≤1.05，0≤v≤0.20，0≤w≤0.20，0≤x≤0.05，0≤y≤0.05，1.50≤z≤2.1)。

4. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary particles have a particle size distribution before/after 4.5 ton pressing, and a d (50) change rate of 20% or less.

5. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary particles have a particle size distribution before/after 2.5 ton pressing, and a d (50) change rate of 3% or less.

6. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the secondary particles have a particle size distribution before/after 6.0 ton compression, and a d (50) change rate of 30% or less.

7. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein the average particle diameter of the primary particles is 0.01 to 20 μm.

8. The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, further comprising a coating layer covering at least a part of an interface between the primary particles and a surface of the secondary particles,

the coating layer includes at least one oxide represented by the following chemical formula 2:

[ chemical formula 2]

Li_aA_bO_c

(wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Nb, Mo, Ti, Al, Cr, Zr, Zn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Pt, Au, B, P, Eu, Sm, W, Ce, V, Ba, Ta, Sn, Hf, Ce, Gd, and Nd,

0≤a≤6，0≤b≤4，2≤c≤8)。

9. the positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to claim 1, wherein a weight loss rate of the positive electrode at a time point when 350 ℃ is reached is 12.3% or less when a positive electrode containing the positive electrode active material is charged to 4.4V to 4.6V and subjected to thermogravimetric analysis by raising a temperature from 25 ℃ to 350 ℃ at a temperature raising rate of 10 ℃/min under an Ar atmosphere at normal pressure.

10. A positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery, characterized by comprising the positive electrode active material according to any one of claims 1 to 9.

11. A lithium secondary battery comprising the positive electrode according to claim 10.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a positive active material for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same.

Background

Compared with other rechargeable battery systems, the lithium secondary battery has the advantages of high working voltage, light weight, small volume, no memory effect, low self-discharge rate, long cycle life, high energy density and the like, and is widely applied to mobile phones, notebook computers, tablet computers and other mobile terminals at present.

Also, in recent years, electric vehicles have been rapidly developed under the push of governments and automobile manufacturers in various countries from the viewpoint of environmental protection, and lithium secondary batteries have become an ideal power source for a new generation of electric vehicles by virtue of their excellent performance.

Lithium-based composite oxides have been used as positive electrode active materials for lithium secondary batteries, and among these oxides, lithium cobalt composite oxides (LiCoO) having high operating voltage and excellent capacity characteristics have been mainly used₂). However, due to LiCoO₂Has very poor high temperature stability due to an unstable crystal structure caused by lithium deintercalation, and is expensive, and thus LiCoO is used₂There is a limit as a power source for a field requiring a large-capacity battery system such as an electric vehicle.

Lithium manganese complex oxides (LiMnO) have been developed₂Or LiMn₂O₄) Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO)₄Etc.) or lithium nickel composite oxide (LiNiO)₂Etc.) as an alternative to LiCoO₂The material of (1). Among these materials, research and development of lithium nickel oxide, which can realize a large capacity battery due to a high reversible capacity of about 200mAh/g, have been more actively conducted.

However, LiNiO₂Is limited in that LiNiO₂Specific LiCoO₂Has worse high-temperature stability, and when an internal short circuit occurs in a charged state due to external pressure or the like, the positive electrode active material itself is decomposed or due to the electrolyte and the positive electrodeSide reactions between the interface and the surface of the electrode active material cause rupture and ignition of the battery.

Therefore, development of an improved LiNiO is required₂And maintaining LiNiO₂The positive electrode active material having excellent reversible capacity.

On the other hand, the lithium secondary battery may be classified into a can type secondary battery having a form in which an electrode assembly is built in a metal can, and a pouch type secondary battery having a form in which an electrode assembly is built in a pouch made of a sheet material such as an aluminum laminate sheet, according to the shape of a battery case.

The pouch type secondary battery is light in weight and has a low possibility of leakage (leakage) of an electrolyte, and thus has an advantage of being able to realize the same amount of secondary battery with a relatively small volume and mass, but if the pressure inside the battery case is sharply increased, there is a risk of explosion, and thus it is one of important issues to secure stability by controlling gas generation, which is a main cause of the increase in the pressure inside the battery case.

For example, when an overcurrent (over charge) exceeding a limit flows into the secondary battery, the internal temperature of the battery rapidly rises, which may cause a decomposition reaction of the electrolyte and generate gas, but gas caused by a side reaction between the interface and the surface of the electrolyte and the positive electrode active material may also occur.

Disclosure of Invention

Technical problem

The object of the present invention is to provide a method for improving LiNiO₂And maintains LiNiO₂A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery having excellent reversible capacity, and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.

Also, an object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery and a lithium secondary battery including the same, which are capable of preventing a battery swelling (swelling) phenomenon caused by gas generation in the secondary battery by reducing the possibility of side reactions occurring between the interface and the surface of an electrolyte and the positive electrode active material.

The object of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned object, and other objects and advantages of the present invention which are not mentioned can be understood by the following description and can be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, it is easily understood that the objects and advantages of the present invention can be achieved by means of the means in the claims and the combination thereof.

Means for solving the problems

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positive electrode active material including a plurality of secondary particles composed of primary particles, the primary particles being a lithium-based composite oxide having lithium ion diffusion paths in equal directions in a long axis direction.

The positive electrode active material is characterized in that the proportion of secondary particles having a grain boundary density of 0.5 or less among the plurality of secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material is 30% or more.

Grain boundary density (number of interfaces between primary particles in secondary particles/number of primary particles constituting secondary particles).

Also, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery including the above positive electrode active material.

Also, according to still another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lithium secondary battery including the above positive electrode.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

The specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material are regions where side reactions occur between the interface and the surface of the positive electrode active material and the electrolyte. By reducing the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles, the high-temperature stability of the positive electrode active material can be improved and gas generation due to the positive electrode active material can be reduced.

As described above, the positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention includes a plurality of secondary particles composed of primary particles, which are lithium-based composite oxides having a single crystal structure. That is, the primary particles constituting the secondary particles are formed of single crystals, so that the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles can be reduced.

Further, according to the present invention, the positive electrode active material includes secondary particles having different grain boundary (grain boundary) densities, and the secondary particles included in the positive electrode active material are formed by agglomerating 1 to 10 primary particles to have a relatively small specific surface area as compared to secondary particles formed by agglomerating tens to hundreds of primary particles, and thus the surface area where a side reaction occurs with the electrolyte can be reduced. In addition, since the number of primary particles forming the secondary particles is small, the density of the grain boundary is reduced, and therefore, the side reaction at the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles can also be reduced.

Also, according to the present invention, since the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material are formed by aggregating 1 to 10 primary particles, the probability that the primary particles in the secondary particles have lithium ion diffusion paths in equal directions in the long axis direction may be high. As described above, as the isotropic lithium ion diffusion path ratio in the long axis direction in the secondary particles increases, lithium ion conductivity and electron conductivity can be improved by the positive electrode active material.

Drawings

Fig. 1 schematically shows a cross section of a conventional positive electrode active material.

Fig. 2 to 4 schematically show cross sections of secondary particles that may be contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention.

Fig. 5 and 6 show lithium ion diffusion paths of the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) in a single crystal state.

Fig. 7 and 8 show lithium ion diffusion paths of the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) formed by the aggregation of a plurality of primary particles.

Fig. 9 shows a cross-sectional SEM photograph of the cathode active material prepared according to example 1, that is, shows a grain boundary density of secondary particles included in the cathode active material.

Fig. 10 shows a cross-sectional SEM photograph of the cathode active material prepared according to example 2, that is, shows a grain boundary density of secondary particles included in the cathode active material.

Fig. 11 shows a cross-sectional SEM photograph of the cathode active material prepared according to comparative example 1, that is, shows the grain boundary density of the secondary particles included in the cathode active material.

Fig. 12 and 13 show SEM photographs of the positive electrode active material prepared according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 14 is a graph illustrating the content of Co measured by performing EP-EDX analysis on secondary particles constituting a cathode active material according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Fig. 15 is a graph illustrating the results of cycle number-based evaluation of life characteristics of secondary batteries using the cathode active materials prepared according to example 2 and comparative example 1.

Fig. 16 and 17 are graphs showing nyquist plots (Nyguist plots) of the measurement results of resistance before/after high-temperature storage for secondary batteries using the cathode active materials prepared according to the examples and comparative examples.

Fig. 18 is a graph illustrating a volume change based on the number of storage days for secondary batteries prepared using the cathode active materials prepared according to example 2 and comparative example 1.

Fig. 19 is a graph illustrating thermogravimetric analysis results for secondary batteries manufactured using the cathode active materials manufactured according to example 2 and comparative example 1.

Detailed Description

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, specific terms are properly defined in the present application. Unless otherwise defined herein, scientific and technical terms used in the present invention have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. In addition, unless the context requires otherwise, singular terms shall include the plural and plural terms shall include the singular.

The term "lithium-based composite oxide" as used herein refers to an oxide capable of occluding and releasing lithium ions and includes lithium and metal elements, and particularly, the lithium-based composite oxide used herein may be a lithium nickel-based composite oxide including lithium and nickel.

As used herein, the term "single crystal" refers to a crystal in a state that does not include a grain boundary (grain boundary) inside the particle, and the term "primary particle" as used herein refers to a particle that exists alone without forming an agglomerate. Therefore, "primary particles of a lithium-based composite oxide having a single crystal structure" refers to particles in a state in which no grain boundary is included in the primary particles made of the lithium-based composite oxide.

The term "secondary particles" as used herein refers to particles obtained by aggregating the above-described primary particles as a lithium-based composite oxide. Thus, when at least two primary particles are aggregated to form secondary particles, a grain boundary or a grain boundary surface formed at an interface between the two primary particles exists in the secondary particles.

The term "grain boundary density" as used herein refers to the number of grain boundaries or grain boundary surfaces formed by the presence of at least two primary particles in a secondary particle, and the greater the number of primary particles present in the secondary particle, the greater the grain boundary density, and the fewer the number of primary particles present in the secondary particle, the smaller the grain boundary density.

Herein, the grain boundary density can be calculated by the following formula.

Grain boundary density (number of interfaces between primary particles in secondary particles/number of primary particles constituting secondary particles).

On the other hand, in the present document, the secondary particle also includes a particle composed of a single primary particle, and the secondary particle composed of a single primary particle is to be understood as a primary particle existing as a single particle even if it is subjected to a post-treatment such as a heat treatment or the like in order to aggregate at least two primary particles to form a secondary particle. The definition of such secondary particles can be more accurately explained by the definition of the cathode active material to be described below.

The term "positive electrode active material" as used herein is a broad concept including the above-described secondary particles. Although a single secondary particle may be a positive electrode active material itself, not only an aggregate of a plurality of secondary particles having the same grain boundary density but also an aggregate of a plurality of secondary particles having different grain boundary densities may be defined as a positive electrode active material herein. The definition of the positive electrode active material herein will be described in more detail below.

The positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to the present invention and the lithium secondary battery including the same are described in further detail below.

The specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material are regions where side reactions occur between the interface and the surface of the positive electrode active material and the electrolyte. By reducing the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles, the high-temperature stability of the positive electrode active material can be improved and gas generation due to the positive electrode active material can be reduced.

A positive electrode active material for a lithium secondary battery according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a positive electrode active material of a plurality of secondary particles composed of primary particles, the primary particles being a lithium-based composite oxide having a single crystal structure. Among them, the primary particles constituting the secondary particles are formed of single crystals, so that the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles can be reduced. The primary particles constituting the secondary particles are lithium ion diffusion paths having an equal direction in the major axis direction, so that the conductivity of lithium ions can be improved by concentrating lithium ions in the secondary particles in one direction without diffusing lithium ions in a plurality of directions.

Fig. 1 schematically illustrates a cross section of a conventional cathode active material, and fig. 2 to 4 schematically illustrate cross sections of secondary particles that may be contained in the cathode active material according to various embodiments of the present invention.

The secondary particles 110, 120, 130 included in the positive electrode active material as shown in fig. 2 to 4 are formed by agglomerating 1 to 10 primary particles 111, 121, 131 to have a relatively small specific surface area as compared with the secondary particles 11 formed by agglomerating tens to hundreds of primary particles 10 as shown in fig. 1, and thus the surface area where side reactions occur with the electrolyte can be reduced. In addition, since the number of primary particles forming the secondary particles is small, the density of the grain boundary is reduced, and therefore, the side reaction at the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles can also be reduced.

Also, according to the present invention, the probability that the primary particles constituting the plurality of secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material have lithium ion diffusion paths in equal directions in the long axis direction may be high. As described above, as the lithium ion diffusion path ratio in the equal direction to the long axis direction in the secondary particles increases, the lithium ion conductivity and the electron conductivity can be improved by the positive electrode active material.

Fig. 5 and 6 show lithium ion diffusion paths of the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) in a single crystal state, and fig. 7 and 8 show lithium ion diffusion paths of the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) formed by aggregation of a plurality of primary particles.

Referring to fig. 5 and 6, it can be confirmed that all lithium ion diffusion paths at arbitrary points (a to D) in the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) have an equal direction in the long axis direction. That is, since lithium ions in the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) can be diffused in a concentrated manner in one direction without being diffused in a plurality of directions, the conductivity of lithium ions can be improved by the positive electrode active material (secondary particles).

On the other hand, referring to fig. 7 and 8, it can be confirmed that the positive electrode active material (secondary particles) is formed by aggregating a plurality of primary particles, and the lithium ion diffusion path at an arbitrary point (① to ⑤) in the left-side primary particles and the lithium ion diffusion path at an arbitrary point (① to ⑤) in the right-side primary particles do not coincide with each other.

Thus, the ratio of the primary particles having the isotropic lithium ion diffusion path in the long axis direction among the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention is preferably 30% or more, and more preferably, may be 70% or more. As described above, as the lithium ion diffusion path ratio in the isotropic direction in the long axis direction in the secondary particles increases, the conductivity of lithium ions in the positive electrode active material can be improved.

In one embodiment, the positive electrode active material according to the present invention may be an aggregate of a plurality of secondary particles having different grain boundary (grain boundary) densities.

Herein, the grain boundary density can be calculated by the following formula.

Grain boundary density (number of interfaces between primary particles in secondary particles/number of primary particles constituting secondary particles).

Secondary particles having different grain boundary densities may have different physical and chemical properties. Examples of the physical properties that vary according to different grain boundary densities include a difference in specific surface area before/after pressing the secondary particles, and examples of the chemical properties include a difference in side reaction ratio between the surface and/or interface of the secondary particles and the electrolyte.

For example, the secondary particles 10 shown in fig. 1 are formed by aggregating a larger number of primary particles 11 than the secondary particles 110, 120, 130 shown in fig. 2 to 4, and therefore the grain boundary density formed by the primary particles 11 is higher than the grain boundary density of the secondary particles 110, 120, 130 shown in fig. 2 to 4. Also, it can be confirmed that the number of grain boundary surfaces b formed by the primary particles 111, 121, 131 in the secondary particles 110, 120, 130 shown in fig. 2 to 4 is significantly less than the number of grain boundary surfaces of the secondary particles 10 shown in fig. 1. In general, the grain boundary surface formed by the primary particles among the secondary particles is a region that can cause a side reaction with the electrolyte, and the smaller the grain boundary density of the secondary particles or the smaller the number of grain boundary surfaces, the lower the possibility of a side reaction with the electrolyte.

Specifically, the positive electrode active material according to the present invention is characterized in that the ratio of secondary particles having a grain boundary density of 0.5 or less among a plurality of secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material is 30% or more, preferably 50% or more, and more preferably 70% or more.

For example, when the secondary particle is composed of a single primary particle having a single crystal structure, the grain boundary density is 0 (the number of boundary surfaces between primary particles in the secondary particle is 0/the number of primary particles constituting the secondary particle is 1), and when the secondary particle is composed of two primary particles having a single crystal structure, the grain boundary density is 0.5. That is, the smaller the number of boundary surfaces between primary particles in the secondary particles, the smaller the grain boundary density value becomes. Among them, as the number of primary particles constituting the secondary particles increases, the number of boundary surfaces between the primary particles also increases in the secondary particles, and therefore, in order to make the grain boundary density 0.5 or less, the secondary particles should be composed of a single primary particle having a single crystal structure or two primary particles having a single crystal structure.

Among them, the average particle diameter of the primary particles of the lithium-based composite oxide having a single crystal structure may be 0.01 to 50 μm, and preferably, may be 0.01 to 20 μm. When the average particle diameter of the primary particles of the lithium-based composite oxide having a single crystal structure is in the range of 0.01 to 20 μm, the optimum density of the positive electrode prepared using the positive electrode active material can be achieved.

Also, the average particle diameter of the secondary particles may vary depending on the number of the aggregated primary particles, but may be 0.01 μm to 50 μm.

More specifically, the positive electrode active material may include secondary particles composed of 1 to 2 primary particles (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "first aggregates"), secondary particles composed of 3 to 6 primary particles (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "second aggregates"), and secondary particles composed of 7 to 10 primary particles (hereinafter, for convenience, referred to as "third aggregates").

The number of the primary particles 111 forming the secondary particles in the first aggregate 110 shown in fig. 2 is one or two, and the number of the primary particles forming the secondary particles is smaller than that of the second aggregate and the third aggregate, and thus has a relatively small specific surface area, so that the region in which the side reaction with the electrolytic solution occurs can be reduced.

Also, in the first aggregate 110, the number of the grain boundary surfaces b formed by the primary particles 111 may be one or less. Therefore, the probability of side reactions with the electrolyte solution occurring at the grain boundary surface may be reduced as compared with the case where the number of the grain boundary surfaces is two or more.

Also, if the secondary particle is composed of one primary particle, the lithium ion diffusion path is the same at any point in the secondary particle. Even if the secondary particles are composed of two primary particles, the possibility that the lithium ion diffusion path at any point has an equal direction in the long axis direction may increase as compared with the case where the secondary particles are composed of three or more primary particles.

That is, the smaller the number of primary particles constituting the secondary particles, the higher the probability that the secondary particles have an isotropic lithium ion diffusion path in the major axis direction, thereby improving lithium ion conductivity and electron conductivity by the cathode active material.

The content of such first aggregates in the aggregates of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material is preferably 30% or more. Here, the ratio (%) of the first aggregates present in the aggregate of the secondary particles means a ratio (%) of the number of the first aggregates in the total number of the secondary particles constituting the aggregate.

When the ratio of the first aggregates in the aggregates of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material is less than 30%, the ratio of the first aggregates in the aggregates decreases, and the average specific surface area and the grain boundary density of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material increase. Thus, the possibility of side reactions between the positive electrode active material and the electrolyte increases, which may be a cause of lowering the high-temperature stability and storage property of the positive electrode active material.

On the other hand, when the firing temperature is increased, the ratio of the first aggregates in the aggregates of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material can be increased. However, when the firing temperature is too high, the possibility of deterioration of the positive electrode active material is conversely increased.

Also, the number of the primary particles 121 forming the secondary particles in the second aggregate 120 as shown in fig. 3 is 3 to 6. The ratio of such second aggregates 120 in the aggregates of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material may be 70% or less, preferably 20% or more and 70% or less.

The number of the primary particles 131 forming the secondary particles in the third aggregate 130 shown in fig. 4 is 7 to 10, and the ratio of the third aggregate 130 in the aggregate of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material is preferably 10% or less.

At this time, the positive electrode active material may include secondary particles formed by aggregating a larger number of primary particles than the third aggregate (secondary particles in which the number of primary particles constituting the secondary particles is 7 to 10). In this case, also in the aggregate of the secondary particles, the ratio of the secondary particles formed by aggregating the third aggregate and a larger number of primary particles than the third aggregate is preferably 10% or less.

When the ratio of the first aggregates is 70% and the ratio of the second aggregates is reduced to less than 20%, the ratio of the second aggregates is reduced relative to the third aggregates, and thus the average specific surface area and the grain boundary density of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material are improved, which may become a cause of reducing the high-temperature stability and storage property of the positive electrode active material.

On the other hand, when the ratio of the second aggregates is more than 30% among the aggregates of the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material, the ratio of the second aggregates relative to the first aggregates is relatively increased, and therefore, similarly, the average specific surface area and the grain boundary density of the secondary battery constituting the positive electrode active material are increased.

As described above, the positive electrode active material according to the present invention includes the first aggregates, the second aggregates, and the third aggregates, and the average ratio of the primary particles having the isotropic lithium ion diffusion path in the long axis direction among the secondary particles constituting the positive electrode active material can be adjusted to 50% or more by adjusting the ratio of the first aggregates, the second aggregates, and the third aggregates.

The lithium-based composite oxide forming the cathode active material according to the present invention may be represented by the following chemical formula 1.

Li_uNi_1-(v+w+x+y)Co_vM1_wM2_xM3_yO_z

Wherein M1 is Mn or Al, M2 and M3 are each independently selected from Al, Ba, B, Ce, Cr, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, K, P, Sr, Ti, W and Zr, and are metals different from each other.

(0.95≤u≤1.05，0≤v≤0.20，0≤w≤0.20，0≤x≤0.05，0≤y≤0.05，1.50≤z≤2.1)

As described above, the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention are regions where side reactions occur between the interface and the surface of the positive electrode active material and the electrolyte. According to the present invention, by reducing the specific surface area and the grain boundary surface of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material, the high-temperature stability of the positive electrode active material can be improved and the gas generation due to the positive electrode active material can be reduced.

In particular, the positive electrode active material according to the present invention includes secondary particles formed of 1 to 10 primary particles having an isotropic lithium ion diffusion path in a long axis direction, and the positive electrode active material may be an aggregate of the secondary particles having different grain boundary densities.

Wherein the aggregate of secondary particles comprises a first aggregate composed of 1 to 2 primary particles, a second aggregate composed of 3 to 6 primary particles, and a third aggregate composed of 7 to 10 primary particles. The ratio of the first, second, and third aggregates is adjusted by taking into account the average specific surface area, the grain boundary surface, and the lithium ion diffusion path of the positive electrode active material, so that the stability and the electrical characteristics of the positive electrode active material can be improved.

For example, in the case of the cathode active material according to various embodiments of the present invention, the grain boundary density is harmonized according to the ratio of the first, second, and third aggregates, so that the lattice structure may be stabilized. In particular, the thermal stability of the positive electrode active material can be improved by preventing the lattice structure of the positive electrode active material from collapsing under relatively high temperature conditions.

The BET specific surface area of the positive electrode formed of the aggregate of the secondary particles as described above may be 0.1m²G to 1.5m²/g。

When the ratio of the first aggregates is less than 30% as the ratio of the second aggregates is more than 30% in the aggregate of the plurality of secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material, the ratio of the first aggregates is decreased in the aggregate,resulting in an increase in the average specific surface area of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material, at which the BET specific surface area may be greater than 1.5m²/g。

And, when the ratio of the third aggregates included in the positive electrode active material is more than 10%, the average specific surface area of the secondary particles included in the positive electrode active material is increased, and at this time, the BET specific surface area may be more than 1.5m²/g。

The d (10) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 2.5 ton pressing of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention may be 5% or less, the d (10) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 4.5 ton pressing may be 15% or less, and the d (10) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 6.0 ton pressing may be 30% or less.

Also, the d (50) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 2.5 ton pressing of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention may be 3% or less, the d (50) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 4.5 ton pressing may be 20% or less, and the d (50) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 6.0 ton pressing may be 30% or less.

Also, the d (90) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 2.5 ton pressing of the secondary particles contained in the positive electrode active material according to the present invention may be 5% or less, the d (90) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 4.5 ton pressing may be 15% or less, and the d (90) change rate of the particle size distribution before/after 6.0 ton pressing may be 20% or less.

In preparing a positive electrode for a lithium secondary battery using a positive electrode active material, a slurry containing the positive electrode active material is coated on a positive electrode current collector, and then a process of drying and rolling (pressing) is performed. In particular, a positive electrode having a high energy density can be produced by rolling under high pressure conditions. At this time, as the rolling density increases, in the case of a positive electrode active material having a small particle strength, desired electrical properties cannot be expected due to particle collapse, while in the case of a positive electrode active material having a large particle strength, the particles may not collapse and the properties may be maintained even under high rolling conditions.

In particular, when the particles collapse under the rolling condition, the ratio of secondary particles included in a relatively small particle size distribution range increases, and herein, the d (10), d (50), and d (90) changes in the particle size distribution before/after pressing indicate the strength of the particles.

The positive electrode active material according to the present invention has a change rate of particle size distribution before/after pressing of only 13% at 4.5 tons and a change rate of particle size distribution before/after pressing of only 26% at 6 tons. Thus, the positive electrode active material according to the present invention can maintain performance and minimize particle collapse even under high calendering conditions.

In addition, the cathode active material according to various embodiments of the present invention may include a coating layer covering at least a portion of the surfaces of the primary particles (e.g., interfaces between the primary particles) and/or the secondary particles formed by agglomerating the primary particles.

For example, the coating layer may be present so as to cover at least a part of the exposed surface of the primary particle. In particular, the coating layer may be present so as to cover at least a part of the exposed surface of the primary particles present in the outermost periphery of the secondary particles.

Thus, the coating layer may be present as a layer that continuously or discontinuously coats the surface of the primary particles and/or the secondary particles formed by aggregating the primary particles. When the above coating layer is present in a discontinuous manner, it may be present in the form of islands (island).

The coating layer as present above may contribute to improving physical and electrochemical characteristics of the positive electrode active material.

The coating layer may be in the form of a solid solution that does not form a boundary with the primary particles and/or the secondary particles formed by aggregating the primary particles.

The coating layer may include at least one oxide represented by the following chemical formula 2. That is, the above coating layer may be defined as a region where an oxide represented by the following chemical formula 2 exists.

[ chemical formula 2]

Li_aA_bO_c

(wherein A is at least one selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, Co, Fe, Cu, Nb, Mo, Ti, Al, Cr, Zr, Zn, Na, K, Ca, Mg, Pt, Au, B, P, Eu, Sm, W, Ce, V, Ba, Ta, Sn, Hf, Ce, Gd, and Nd,

and a is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 6, b is more than or equal to 0 and less than or equal to 4, c is more than or equal to 2 and less than or equal to 8)

Also, the coating layer may have a form in which different types of oxides are simultaneously present in one layer or may have a form in which different types of oxides represented by the above chemical formula 2 are respectively present in different layers.

The oxide represented by the above chemical formula 2 may be in a state of being physically and/or chemically bonded to the primary particle represented by the above chemical formula 1. The oxide may be present in a state of forming a solid solution with the primary particles represented by chemical formula 1.

The positive electrode active material according to the present embodiment includes a coating layer covering at least a part of the surfaces of the primary particles (for example, the interfaces between the primary particles) and/or the secondary particles formed by the aggregation of the primary particles, so that structural stability can be improved. When the positive active material is used for a lithium secondary battery, the high-temperature storage stability and life characteristics of the positive active material can be improved. Also, the oxide reduces residual lithium in the positive electrode active material and serves as a path (path) for lithium ions, which may affect improvement of efficiency characteristics of the lithium secondary battery.

In addition, the oxide may be present not only at the interface between the primary particles and at least a part of the surface of the secondary particles, but also in internal voids formed in the secondary particles.

The oxide is an oxide obtained by combining lithium and an element represented by A or an oxide of A, and an example of the oxide may be Li_aW_bO_c、Li_aZr_bO_c、Li_aTi_bO_c、Li_aNi_bO_c、Li_aBa_bO_c、Li_aB_bO_c、W_bO_c、Zr_bO_c、Ti_bO_cOr Ba_bO_cEtc., but the above examples are described only for easy understanding, and the oxide defined herein is not limited to the above examples.

In another embodiment, the oxide may be an oxide obtained by compounding lithium and at least two elements represented by a or further include an oxide obtained by compounding lithium and at least two elements represented by a. An example of the oxide obtained by compounding lithium and at least two elements represented by a may be Li_a(W/Ti)_bO_c、Li_a(W/Zr)_bO_c、Li_a(W/Ti/Zr)_bO_c、Li_a(W/Ti/Ba)_bO_cAnd Li_a(W/Ti/B)_bO_cEtc., but the present invention is not limited thereto.

Wherein the oxide may have a concentration gradient that decreases from a surface portion of the secondary particle toward a central portion of the secondary particle. Thereby, the concentration of the oxide can be decreased from the outermost surface of the secondary particle toward the central portion of the secondary particle.

As described above, the oxide has a concentration gradient that decreases from the surface portion of the secondary particle toward the central portion of the secondary particle, thereby not only effectively reducing the residual lithium present on the surface of the positive electrode active material but also preventing in advance the side reaction due to the unreacted residual lithium. In addition, the oxide can prevent the crystallinity of the region inside the surface of the positive electrode active material from decreasing. In addition, the entire structure of the positive electrode active material can be prevented from collapsing in the electrochemical reaction by the above-described oxide.

In addition, the coating layer may include a first oxide layer including at least one oxide represented by the chemical formula 2 and a second oxide layer including at least one oxide represented by the chemical formula 2 and including an oxide different from the oxide included in the first oxide layer.

For example, the first oxide layer may be present so as to cover at least a part of exposed surfaces of the primary particles present in an outermost periphery of the secondary particles, and the second oxide layer may be present so as to cover at least a part of exposed surfaces of the primary particles and surfaces of the first oxide layer, which are not covered with the first oxide layer.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a positive electrode and a secondary battery including the above positive electrode active material are provided.

The positive electrode includes a positive electrode current collector and a positive electrode active material layer on the positive electrode current collector, and the positive electrode active material according to one aspect of the present invention is present in the positive electrode active material layer.

The positive electrode current collector is not particularly limited as long as it has high conductivity without causing chemical changes in the battery, and examples thereof may include: stainless steel, aluminum, nickel, titanium, sintered carbon, or aluminum or stainless steel having a surface treated with carbon, nickel, titanium, silver, or the like. In addition, the positive electrode collector may generally have a thickness of 3 to 500 μm, or the adhesion of the positive electrode active material may be increased by forming minute irregularities on the collector surface. Such a cathode current collector may have various forms such as a film, a sheet, a case, a mesh, a porous material, a foam, and a non-woven fabric.

Also, the positive electrode active material layer may be a layer including the above-described positive electrode active material, a conductive material, and a binder.

Wherein the conductive material is used to impart conductivity to the electrode. The above-mentioned conductive material is not limited in any way as long as it has conductivity and does not cause chemical changes of the positive electrode active material. Non-limiting examples of the conductive material include graphite such as natural graphite or artificial graphite, etc.; carbon-based materials such as carbon black, acetylene black, ketjen black, channel black, furnace black, lamp black, thermal black, carbon fiber, and the like; metal powders or metal fibers such as copper, nickel, aluminum, and silver; conductive whiskers such as zinc oxide whiskers, potassium titanate whiskers, and the like; conductive metal oxides such as titanium oxide and the like; or a conductive polymer such as a polyphenylene derivative, etc. Generally, the content of the conductive material may be 1 to 30 wt% based on the total weight of the positive electrode active material layer.

Also, the binder functions to adhere the positive electrode active material particles to each other and to improve the adhesion of the positive electrode active material to the current collector. Non-limiting examples of binders include: polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), vinylidene fluoride-hexafluoropropylene copolymer (PVDF-co-HFP), polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylonitrile (polyacrylonitrile), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), starch, hydroxypropyl cellulose, regenerated cellulose, polyvinyl pyrrolidone, tetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene-propylene-diene monomer (EPDM), sulfonated EPDM, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR), fluororubber, or various copolymers thereof, and the like. Generally, the content of the binder may be 1 to 30 wt% with respect to the total weight of the positive electrode active material layer.

The positive electrode according to an embodiment of the present invention may be prepared using a general positive electrode preparation method for a lithium secondary battery, in addition to using the above-described positive electrode active material. Specifically, the positive electrode may be prepared by coating a slurry for forming a positive electrode active material layer, which includes the above-described positive electrode active material and optionally a binder and a conductive material, on a positive electrode current collector, and then drying and rolling the resultant. According to another example, the positive electrode may also be prepared by casting the above-described slurry for forming the positive electrode active material layer on a separate support, and then laminating a film obtained by peeling the positive electrode active material layer from the support on the positive electrode current collector.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an electrochemical device including the above-described positive electrode. The above electrochemical device may specifically be a battery, a capacitor, or the like, and more specifically, may be a lithium secondary battery.

The lithium secondary battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode positioned opposite to the positive electrode, and a separator and an electrolyte (electrolytic solution) interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode. Also, the lithium secondary battery may include a battery container (case) accommodating an electrode assembly including a cathode, an anode, and a separator, and a sealing member sealing the battery container.

Among them, lithium secondary batteries are classified into can type lithium secondary batteries having a can form in which an electrode assembly is built in a metal can, and pouch type lithium secondary batteries having a pouch form in which an electrode assembly is built in a pouch made of a sheet material such as an aluminum laminate sheet, according to the shape of a battery container (can).

In particular, in the case of a pouch type lithium secondary battery using a positive electrode including the positive electrode active material of various embodiments of the present invention, since the possibility of side reactions occurring between the positive electrode active material and an electrolyte is low, there is an advantage in that it is possible to improve stability in storage and/or operation and reduce gas generation.

Therefore, in the case of a lithium secondary battery using a positive electrode including the positive electrode active material of various embodiments of the present invention, for example, the volume increase amount of the lithium secondary battery becomes 0.3cm during storage at 60 ℃ for 14 days after charging to 4.25V at 0.2C³Hereinafter, reliability and stability can be ensured.

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to examples. However, these examples are only for illustrating the present invention, and the scope of the present invention should not be construed as being limited by these examples.

Preparation of positive electrode active material