阅读说明：本技术 正极活性物质、正极、电池、电池包、电子设备、电动车辆、蓄电装置及电力系统 (Positive electrode active material, positive electrode, battery pack, electronic device, electric vehicle, power storage device, and power system ) 是由 村上洋介 宫崎武志 于 2018-04-20 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种电池,具备正极、负极和电解质,正极包含正极活性物质颗粒的粉末,且单个正极活性物质颗粒的平均晶界数小于0.58。(A battery includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode contains a powder of positive electrode active material particles, and the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.)

1. A battery, characterized in that,

Comprises a positive electrode, a negative electrode and an electrolyte,

The positive electrode contains a powder of positive electrode active material particles,

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

2. The battery according to claim 1,

The positive electrode active material particles include a lithium transition metal composite oxide having a layered rock-salt type structure.

3. The battery according to claim 2,

The lithium transition metal composite oxide is at least one of lithium cobaltate and a substance in which cobalt of the lithium cobaltate is substituted by another metal element.

4. The battery according to claim 2,

The lithium transition metal composite oxide has an average composition represented by the following formula (1),

LiCoMOF……(1)

Wherein, in formula (1), M represents at least one of the group consisting of nickel, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, boron, titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, tin, calcium, strontium, and tungsten, r, s, t, and u are values in the range of 0.8. ltoreq. r.ltoreq.1.2, 0. ltoreq. s < 0.5, 0.1. ltoreq. t.ltoreq.0.2, 0. ltoreq. u.ltoreq.0.1, the composition of lithium varies depending on the state of charge and discharge, and the value of r represents the value of the complete discharge state.

5. The battery according to claim 4,

M in the formula (1) is at least one of aluminum, magnesium and titanium.

6. The battery according to claim 1,

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles is 0.5 or less.

7. The battery according to claim 1,

The positive electrode in a fully charged state has a potential higher than 4.20V with respect to Li/Li +.

8. The battery according to claim 1,

The positive electrode in a fully charged state has a potential higher than 4.40V with respect to Li/Li +.

9. A positive electrode active material characterized in that,

A powder containing particles of a positive electrode active material,

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

10. a positive electrode characterized in that,

A powder containing particles of a positive electrode active material,

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

11. a battery pack is characterized by comprising:

The battery of claim 1; and

A control unit for controlling the battery.

12. An electronic device, characterized in that,

A battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is provided,

The electronic device receives power supply from the battery.

13. An electric vehicle is characterized by comprising:

The battery of claim 1;

A conversion device that receives electric power supply from the battery and converts the electric power into driving force of the vehicle; and

And a control device that performs information processing regarding vehicle control based on the information regarding the battery.

14. An electric storage device is characterized in that,

A battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is provided,

The electrical storage device supplies electric power to an electronic apparatus connected to the battery.

15. A power system, characterized in that,

A battery according to claim 1, wherein the battery is provided,

The power system receives a supply of power from the battery.

Technical Field

The present technology relates to a positive electrode active material, a positive electrode, a battery pack, an electronic device, an electric vehicle, an electric storage device, and an electric power system.

Background

As a positive electrode active material of a lithium ion secondary battery, a LiCoO 2-based active material (a composition including a part of Co substituted with another metal element) was used. Further, a technique has been proposed in which the average crystal grain size of a LiCoO 2-based active material is controlled within a predetermined range, thereby reducing the occurrence of cracks in the positive electrode active material particles during charge and discharge of the battery, and improving the cycle characteristics (see, for example, patent document 1).

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, even if the average crystal grain size is controlled, when a plurality of crystallites (single crystals) are present in the positive electrode active material particles, the occurrence of cracks in the positive electrode active material particles is not necessarily suppressed. In particular, when charging and discharging are performed at a high potential exceeding 4.2V, it is difficult to suppress the occurrence of cracks. Therefore, even if the average crystal grain size is controlled, there is a possibility that good cycle characteristics cannot be obtained.

An object of the present technology is to provide a positive electrode active material, a positive electrode, a battery pack, an electronic device, an electric vehicle, an electric storage device, and a power system, each of which is capable of obtaining good cycle characteristics.

means for solving the problems

In order to solve the above problems, a battery according to the present technology includes a positive electrode, a negative electrode, and an electrolyte, wherein the positive electrode includes a powder of positive electrode active material particles, and the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

The positive electrode active material of the present technology contains a powder of positive electrode active material particles, and the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

The positive electrode of the present technology contains a powder of positive electrode active material particles, and the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58.

The battery pack, the electronic device, the electric vehicle, the power storage device, and the power system according to the present technology include the battery.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present technology, good cycle characteristics can be obtained. The effects described herein are not limited to these, and may be any effects described in the present disclosure or effects different from these effects.

Drawings

Fig. 1A, 1B, 1C, and 1D are schematic views each showing observation conditions of a SIM (scanning ion microscope) image.

fig. 2A is a schematic diagram for explaining a method of determining grain boundaries (grain boundaries). Fig. 2B is a diagram showing a first example of the histogram of the boundary. Fig. 2C is a diagram showing a second example of the histogram of the boundary.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view showing an example of the structure of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present technology.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of the wound electrode body shown in fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing an example of the configuration of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery according to a second embodiment of the present technology.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing an example of a configuration of an electronic device as an application example.

Fig. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power storage system in a vehicle as an application example.

fig. 9 is a schematic diagram showing an example of the configuration of a power storage system in a house as an application example.

Fig. 10 is a graph showing the relationship between the average number of grain boundaries of a single positive electrode active material particle and cycle characteristics.

fig. 11A is a SIM image of a cross section of LiCoO2 particles with an average number of grain boundaries of 0.23 of a single LiCoO2 particle. Fig. 11B is a SIM image of a cross section of LiCoO2 particles having an average number of grain boundaries of 2.25 of a single LiCoO2 particle.

fig. 12 is a TEM (transmission electron microscope) image of a cross section of the NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum ternary positive electrode material) based positive electrode active material particles.

Detailed Description

The embodiment and application example of the present technology will be described in the following order.

1 first embodiment (example of Positive electrode active Material)

Second embodiment (example of cylindrical battery)

Third embodiment (example of laminate film type Battery)

Application example 1 (example of Battery pack and electronic device)

Application example 5 (example of Power storage System in vehicle)

Application example 6 (example of Power storage System in residence)

<1 first embodiment >

[ constitution of Positive electrode active Material ]

the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment of the present technology is a so-called positive electrode active material for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, and includes a powder of positive electrode active material particles. The positive electrode active material particles are capable of occluding and releasing lithium as an electrode reaction material, and include a lithium transition metal composite oxide having a layered rock salt type structure. The positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment is preferably applied to a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery having a high charging voltage (for example, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery in which the potential of the positive electrode in a fully charged state is higher than 4.20V (vsLi/Li +)).

The lithium transition metal composite oxide contains at least one of lithium cobaltate and a substance in which a part of cobalt of the lithium cobaltate is substituted with another metal element. In this case, the content of the other metal element in the lithium transition metal composite oxide is, for example, smaller than the content of cobalt. The other metal element is at least one selected from the group consisting of nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), magnesium (Mg), aluminum (Al), boron (B), titanium (Ti), vanadium (V), chromium (Cr), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), molybdenum (Mo), tin (Sn), calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), and tungsten (W).

The lithium transition metal composite oxide preferably has an average composition represented by the following formula (1),

LiCoMOF……(1)

(wherein, in formula (1), M represents at least one member selected from the group consisting of nickel, manganese, magnesium, aluminum, boron, titanium, vanadium, chromium, iron, copper, zinc, molybdenum, tin, calcium, strontium and tungsten, preferably at least one member selected from the group consisting of aluminum, magnesium and titanium. r, s, t and u are values in the range of 0.8. ltoreq. r.ltoreq.1.2, 0. ltoreq. s.ltoreq.0.5, -. 0.1. ltoreq. t.ltoreq.0.2, 0. ltoreq. u.ltoreq.0.1. furthermore, the composition of lithium differs depending on the state of charge and discharge, and the value of r represents the value in the completely discharged state.).

(average number of grain boundaries of individual particles of positive electrode active Material)

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58, preferably 0.5 or less, more preferably 0.45 or less, still more preferably 0.31 or less, and particularly preferably 0.23 or less. If the average number of grain boundaries is less than 0.58, cracking of the positive electrode active material particles due to charge and discharge can be suppressed, and good cycle characteristics can be obtained.

If a grain boundary exists in the positive electrode active material particles, the crystallites expand and contract in different directions at the grain boundary during charge and discharge. Therefore, cracks are likely to occur at the positions of grain boundaries during charge and discharge. Therefore, in order to obtain good cycle characteristics, it is preferable to define the average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles as described above. In the lithium transition metal composite oxide having a layered rock salt structure, since grain boundary destruction is likely to occur along with a change in the layered rock salt structure during charge and discharge at a high potential, it is particularly preferable to define the average number of grain boundaries as described above.

(method of calculating average number of grain boundaries of individual Positive electrode active Material particles)

The average number of grain boundaries of the individual positive electrode active material particles was calculated in the manner described below. First, a positive electrode active material is fixed with a resin, and after a cross section of positive electrode active material particles is cut out, the cross section is polished by ion milling. Subsequently, a SIM image of the cross section of the positive electrode active material particle was taken using a Focused Ion Beam (FIB) manufactured by FEI (HELIOS NANOLAB 400S; acceleration voltage 5 kV). Specifically, in order to facilitate recognition of processing unevenness other than grain boundaries (so-called curtain effect (curved effect) of FIB (Focused Ion Beam) processing) and contrast of the side wall of the particle, the orientation relationship between the incident direction of Ga ions and the sample 51 and the secondary electron detector 52 was changed, and SIM images of the same field of view (about 40 μm × 80 μm) were taken for four orientations as shown in fig. 1A to 1D. In fig. 1A to 1D, characters "a" and "B" are attached to both ends of the sample 51 in order to clarify the direction of the sample 51. Subsequently, the number of particles and the number of grain boundaries in the captured SIM image were measured, and the average number of grain boundaries of a single positive electrode active material particle (number of grain boundaries in the SIM image/number of particles in the SIM image) was calculated. In the calculation, the positive electrode active material particles having a long axis length of 500nm or less were not counted as particles. Here, the major axis length refers to the maximum distance (the maximum feret diameter) among the distances between two parallel lines drawn from an arbitrary angle so as to be adjacent to the outline of the particle. In the present embodiment, the reason why the number of grain boundaries is measured using the SIM image is that the SIM image exhibits a stronger crystal orientation contrast than an SEM (scanning electron microscope) image or the like.

(method of determining grain boundary)

The contrast (crystal orientation contrast) changes in the SIM image with the grain boundary as a boundary. On the other hand, the gaps between the particles were darker after the exposure. Therefore, in the above-described "method of calculating the average number of grain boundaries of a single positive electrode active material particle", it is determined which of the "grain boundaries" (boundaries in the case where crystal orientations are different) and the "gaps between particles (gaps between positive electrode active material particles)" the boundary at which the contrast changes in the captured SIM image is determined as follows. Here, an example in which the determination boundary 61 is one of the "grain boundary" and the "inter-grain gap" as shown in fig. 2A will be described. Fig. 2A is a diagram showing one SIM image captured.

First, as shown in fig. 2A, a histogram (histogram showing a luminance distribution) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the extending direction of the viewed boundary 61 (specifically, the extending direction of the line segment 61A marked in fig. 2A) is obtained from the captured SIM image. Subsequently, it is checked whether or not there is an area where the luminance is lowered and becomes constant in the portion corresponding to the boundary 61 in the acquired histogram. As shown in fig. 2B, when there is a region where the luminance is reduced and becomes constant, the boundary 61 is determined to be "the inter-particle gap". On the other hand, as shown in fig. 2C, in the case where there is no region where the luminance is reduced and becomes constant (that is, in the case where the histogram changes in a substantially V-shape), the inflection points of the two curves steeply inclined toward the center of the boundary are obtained, and then the distance between the inflection points in the horizontal axis direction is obtained. Even in the substantially V-shaped form, when there are three or more inflection points, the inflection points are obtained by an approximate curve of a normal distribution (so-called gaussian fitting). Then, it is judged whether or not the distance is 50nm or more. When the distance between the inflection points in the transverse axis direction is 50nm or more, the boundary 61 is determined as "inter-particle gap". On the other hand, when the distance in the horizontal axis direction between the inflection points is less than 50nm, the boundary 61 is determined to be "grain boundary".

for example, in the case where the boundary 61 among the boundaries 61, 62, and 63 in fig. 2A (SIM image) is determined as "inter-particle gap" and the boundaries 62 and 63 are determined as "grain boundaries", two particles are present in the SIM image and two grain boundaries are present. Thus, the average number of grain boundaries of a single positive electrode active material particle (number of grain boundaries within the SIM image/number of particles within the SIM image) is "1".

(average particle diameter)

The average particle diameter of the positive electrode active material particles is preferably 2 μm or more and 50 μm or less, and more preferably 5 μm or more and 40 μm or less. This is because if the average particle size is less than 2 μm, the positive electrode active material is easily peeled off from the positive electrode current collector in the pressing process when the positive electrode is manufactured, and since the surface area of the positive electrode active material is increased, the amount of the conductive agent, the binder, or the like to be added must be increased, and the energy density per unit mass is decreased. On the other hand, if the average particle size is larger than 50 μm, the possibility of the positive electrode active material penetrating the separator and causing a short circuit is increased.

(method of calculating average particle diameter)

The average particle diameter of the positive electrode active material particles may be an average value of particle sizes according to a so-called particle size distribution meter. The average particle diameter can also be determined from the particles in the SIM image in the above-described "method of calculating the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles". In this case, 10 particles are randomly selected from the photographed SIM image, the area of the cross section of the particle is measured by image processing, and the particle diameter (diameter) of each particle is determined assuming that the cross section of the particle is circular. Subsequently, the average particle diameter was determined by simply averaging (arithmetic mean) the particle diameters of the 10 particles measured, and this value was taken as the average particle diameter of the positive electrode active material particles.

[ method for producing Positive electrode active Material ]

An example of a method for producing the positive electrode active material having the above-described configuration will be described below. First, cobalt hydroxide was used as a raw material, and cobalt oxide (Co3O4) was produced by firing. In this case, it is preferable to suppress the generation of cobalt oxide grain boundaries. This is because the number of grain boundaries of cobalt oxide (Co3O4) affects the number of grain boundaries of the finally obtained positive electrode active material. When cobalt oxide (Co3O4) is formed by firing, the formation temperature is preferably 850 ℃ or lower, and more preferably 800 ℃ or lower. This is because Co3O4 undergoes phase transition to CoO at a temperature of 900 ℃, and there is a possibility that grain boundaries are induced by this phase transition.

Subsequently, after cobalt oxide (Co3O4) and lithium carbonate (Li2Co3) were mixed with a compound containing an additive element as needed, the resulting mixture was calcined, thereby obtaining a LiCoO 2-based active material (composition containing a part of Co substituted with another metal element). In this case, the calcination temperature is preferably 850 ℃ or lower, more preferably 800 ℃ or lower. This is because, as described above, Co3O4 undergoes phase transition to CoO at a temperature of about 900 ℃. After that, it is preferable to classify without pulverization. This is because when an active material of LiCoO2 type is pulverized, defects are generated, and there is a possibility that grain boundaries are formed in the defect repair process by heat treatment after pulverization. As described above, a target positive electrode active material can be obtained.

[ Effect ]

the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment contains a powder of positive electrode active material particles, and the average number of grain boundaries of individual positive electrode active material particles is less than 0.58, whereby cracking of the positive electrode active material particles due to charge and discharge can be suppressed. Thus, a battery having good cycle characteristics can be realized.

<2 second embodiment >

In a second embodiment, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery including a positive electrode containing the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment will be described.

[ constitution of Battery ]

Hereinafter, a description will be given of a configuration example of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery (hereinafter simply referred to as a "battery") according to a second embodiment of the present technology, with reference to fig. 3. This battery is, for example, a so-called lithium ion secondary battery in which the capacity of the negative electrode is expressed by a capacity component that is absorbed and released by an electrode reaction substance lithium (Li). This battery is a so-called cylindrical type, and includes a wound electrode assembly 20 in which a pair of strip-shaped positive electrodes 21 and a pair of strip-shaped negative electrodes 22 are stacked and wound via a separator 23 inside a substantially hollow cylindrical battery can 11. The battery can 11 is made of nickel (Ni) -plated iron (Fe), and has one closed end and the other open end. An electrolytic solution as a liquid electrolyte is injected into the battery can 11, and the positive electrode 21, the negative electrode 22, and the separator 23 are impregnated with the electrolytic solution. The pair of insulating plates 12 and 13 are disposed perpendicularly to the winding peripheral surface so as to sandwich the wound electrode assembly 20.

A battery cover 14, a safety valve mechanism 15 provided inside the battery cover 14, and a thermistor element (PTC element) 16 are crimped to the open end of the battery can 11 via a seal gasket 17. Accordingly, the inside of the battery can 11 is sealed. The battery cover 14 is made of, for example, the same material as the battery can 11. The safety valve mechanism 15 is electrically connected to the battery cover 14, and is configured such that when the internal pressure of the battery reaches a certain level or more due to internal short-circuiting, heating from the outside, or the like, the disk plate 15A is reversed to cut off the electrical connection between the battery cover 14 and the wound electrode body 20. The seal gasket 17 is made of, for example, an insulating material, and the surface is coated with asphalt.

A center pin 24, for example, is inserted into the center of the wound electrode body 20. A positive electrode lead 25 made of aluminum (Al) or the like is connected to the positive electrode 21 of the wound electrode body 20, and a negative electrode lead 26 made of nickel or the like is connected to the negative electrode 22. The positive electrode lead 25 is electrically connected to the battery cover 14 by being welded to the safety valve mechanism 15, and the negative electrode lead 26 is welded to the battery can 11 to be electrically connected to the battery can 11.

The positive electrode 21, the negative electrode 22, the separator 23, and the electrolyte constituting the battery will be described in this order with reference to fig. 4.

(Positive electrode)

the positive electrode 21 has a structure in which, for example, positive electrode active material layers 21B are provided on both surfaces of a positive electrode current collector 21A. Although not shown in the drawings, the positive electrode active material layer 21B may be provided only on one surface of the positive electrode current collector 21A. The positive electrode current collector 21A is made of a metal foil such as an aluminum foil, nickel platinum, or stainless steel foil. The positive electrode active material layer 21B contains a positive electrode active material. The positive electrode active material layer 21B may further contain at least one of a conductive agent and a binder as necessary.

(Positive electrode active Material)

The positive electrode active material is the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment.

(Binder)

As the binder, at least one selected from resin materials such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF), Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), Polyacrylonitrile (PAN), Styrene Butadiene Rubber (SBR), and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and copolymers mainly composed of these resin materials can be used.

(conductive agent)

The conductive agent may, for example, be a carbon material such as graphite, carbon fiber, carbon black, ketjen black or carbon nanotube, and one of these may be used alone or two or more of them may be used in combination. In addition to the carbon material, a metal material, a conductive polymer material, or the like may be used as long as the material has conductivity.

(cathode)

The anode 22 has a structure in which, for example, anode active material layers 22B are provided on both surfaces of an anode current collector 22A. Although not shown in the drawings, the anode active material layer 22B may be provided only on one surface of the anode current collector 22A. The negative electrode current collector 22A is made of a metal foil such as a copper foil, a nickel foil, or a stainless steel foil.

the anode active material layer 22B contains one or two or more kinds of anode active materials capable of occluding and releasing lithium. The anode active material layer 22B may further contain at least one of a binder and a conductive agent as necessary.

In this battery, the electrochemical equivalent of the anode 22 or the anode active material is larger than that of the cathode 21, and it is preferable that no lithium metal is theoretically deposited from the anode 22 during charging.

(negative electrode active Material)

The negative electrode active material may, for example, be a carbon material such as non-graphitizable carbon, graphite, pyrolytic carbon, coke, glassy carbon, calcined organic polymer compound, carbon fiber or activated carbon. The coke includes pitch coke, needle coke, petroleum coke, and the like. The calcined organic polymer compound is a product obtained by carbonizing by calcining a polymer material such as a phenol resin or a furan resin at an appropriate temperature, and some of the calcined organic polymer compound is classified into non-graphitizable carbon or graphitizable carbon. These carbon materials are preferable because the change in crystal structure occurring during charge and discharge is very small, a high charge and discharge capacity can be obtained, and good cycle characteristics can be obtained. Graphite is particularly preferable because it has a large electrochemical equivalent and can achieve a high energy density. In addition, the non-graphitizable carbon is preferable because excellent cycle characteristics can be obtained. Further, a material having a low charge/discharge potential, specifically, a material having a charge/discharge potential close to that of lithium metal is preferable because it is possible to easily achieve a high energy density of the battery.

in addition, as another negative electrode active material capable of achieving a high capacity, a material containing at least one of a metal element and a semimetal element as a constituent element (for example, an alloy, a compound, or a mixture) can be cited. This is because a high energy density can be obtained if such a material is used. In particular, it is preferable to use the carbon material together because high energy density can be obtained and excellent cycle characteristics can be obtained. In the present technology, the alloy may include a substance containing one or more metals and one or more semimetal elements in addition to a substance composed of two or more metal elements. In addition, non-metal elements can be contained. In this structure, a solid solution, a eutectic crystal (eutectic mixture), an intermetallic compound, or a substance in which two or more of these coexist is present.

Examples of such a negative electrode active material include a metal element or a semimetal element that can form an alloy with lithium. Specifically, there may be mentioned magnesium, boron, aluminum, titanium, gallium (Ga), indium (In), silicon (Si), germanium (Ge), tin, lead (Pb), bismuth (Bi), cadmium (Cd), silver (Ag), zinc, hafnium (Hf), zirconium, yttrium (Y), palladium (Pd) or platinum (Pt). These may be crystalline or amorphous.

The negative electrode active material preferably contains a metal element or a semimetal element of the short-period type group 4B in the periodic table as a constituent element, and more preferably contains at least one of silicon and tin as a constituent element. This is because silicon and tin have a large ability to store and release lithium, and a high energy density can be obtained. Examples of such a negative electrode active material include a monomer, an alloy, or a compound at least partially containing silicon; or a tin monomer, alloy or compound; or a material of one or two or more phases of these.

Examples of the alloy of silicon include those containing at least one of tin, nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc, indium, silver, titanium, germanium, bismuth, antimony (Sb), and chromium as a second constituent element other than silicon. The tin alloy may include a material containing at least one of the group consisting of silicon, nickel, copper, iron, cobalt, manganese, zinc, indium, silver, titanium, germanium, bismuth, antimony, and chromium as a second constituent element other than tin.

The compound of tin or the compound of silicon may include oxygen or carbon, and may include the second constituent element described above in addition to tin or silicon.

among them, an SnCoC-containing material containing cobalt, tin, and carbon as constituent elements, the content of carbon being 9.9 mass% or more and 29.7 mass% or less, and the proportion of cobalt to cobalt in the total of tin and cobalt being 30 mass% or more and 70 mass% or less is preferable as the Sn-based negative electrode active material. This is because, in such a composition range, a high energy density can be obtained and, at the same time, excellent cycle characteristics can be obtained.

The SnCoC-containing material may further contain other constituent elements as necessary. As the other constituent element, for example, silicon, iron, nickel, chromium, indium, niobium, germanium, titanium, molybdenum, aluminum, phosphorus (P), gallium, or bismuth is preferable, and two or more kinds may be contained. This is because the capacity or cycle characteristics can be further improved.

Further, the SnCoC-containing material has a phase containing tin, cobalt, and carbon, and preferably the phase has a low crystallinity or an amorphous structure. In the SnCoC-containing material, at least a part of carbon as a constituent element is preferably bonded to a metal element or a semimetal element as another constituent element. This is because, although it is considered that the reduction of the cycle characteristics is caused by aggregation or crystallization of tin or the like, such aggregation or crystallization can be suppressed by binding of carbon to other elements.

An example of a method for measuring the binding state of the test element is X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). In the case of graphite, XPS showed that the peak of the 1s orbital (C1s) of carbon appeared at 284.5eV in an energy-calibrated device such that the peak of the 4f orbital (Au4f) of a gold atom could be obtained at 84.0 eV. In addition, surface contamination carbon appears at 284.8 eV. In contrast, when the charge density of carbon element is increased, for example, when carbon is bonded to a metal element or a semimetal element, the peak of spectrum of C1s appears in a region lower than 284.5 eV. That is, in the case where the peak of the synthesized wave of C1s obtained for the SnCoC-containing material appears in a region lower than 284.5eV, at least a part of carbon contained in the SnCoC-containing material is bonded to a metal element or a semimetal element which is another constituent element.

in addition, in the XPS measurement, for example, a peak of C1s is used for calibration of the spectral energy axis. In general, since surface contamination carbon exists on the surface, the peak of spectrum C1s of the surface contamination carbon was set to 284.8eV, and this was taken as an energy reference. In the XPS measurement, since the waveform of the peak of C1s can be obtained in a form including the peak of the surface contamination carbon and the peak of the carbon in the SnCoC-containing material, the peak of the surface contamination carbon and the peak of the carbon in the SnCoC-containing material are separated by analyzing using, for example, commercially available software. In the waveform analysis, the position of the main peak existing on the lowest bound energy side was taken as an energy reference (284.8 eV).

Examples of the other negative electrode active material include a metal oxide or a polymer compound capable of occluding and releasing lithium. Examples of the metal oxide include lithium titanium oxide containing titanium and lithium, such as lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12), iron oxide, ruthenium oxide, and molybdenum oxide. Examples of the polymer compound include polyacetylene, polyaniline, and polypyrrole.

(Binder)

as the binder, at least one selected from resin materials such as polyvinylidene fluoride, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyacrylonitrile, styrene-butadiene rubber, and carboxymethyl cellulose, and copolymers mainly composed of these resin materials can be used.

(conductive agent)

As the conductive agent, the same carbon material as the positive electrode active material layer 21B and the like can be used.

(diaphragm)

The separator 23 is a member that separates the cathode 21 and the anode 22 to allow lithium ions to pass therethrough while preventing a short circuit of current caused by contact of the both electrodes. The separator 23 is made of, for example, a porous film made of resin such as polytetrafluoroethylene, polypropylene, or polyethylene, and may have a structure in which two or more kinds of these porous films are laminated. Among these, a polyolefin porous film is preferable because it has an excellent effect of preventing short circuits and is expected to improve the safety of a battery by the blocking effect. In particular, polyethylene is preferable as a constituent material of the separator 23 because it can obtain a barrier effect in a range of 100 ℃ to 160 ℃ and is excellent in electrochemical stability. In addition, other materials in which a resin having chemical stability is copolymerized or blended with polyethylene or polypropylene can also be used. Alternatively, the porous film may have a structure in which three or more polypropylene layers, a polyethylene layer, and a polypropylene layer are laminated in this order.

The separator 23 may have a structure including a substrate and a surface layer provided on one surface or both surfaces of the substrate. The surface layer contains electrically insulating inorganic particles and a resin material that bonds the inorganic particles to the surface of the base material and also bonds the inorganic particles to each other. The resin material may also have, for example, a three-dimensional network structure in which fibrils are continuously connected to each other. The inorganic particles are carried by the resin material having a three-dimensional network structure, so that they can be maintained in a non-interconnected dispersed state. Further, the resin material may be formed by bonding the base material surface and/or the inorganic particles to each other without fibrillation. In this case, higher adhesion can be obtained. By providing a surface layer on one or both surfaces of the base material as described above, oxidation resistance, heat resistance, and physical strength can be imparted to the base material.

the substrate is a porous layer having porosity. More specifically, the substrate is a porous film composed of an insulating film having a large ion permeability and a predetermined mechanical strength, and the electrolyte solution is held in the pores of the substrate. The substrate preferably has a predetermined mechanical strength as a main component of the separator, and is also required to have characteristics such as high resistance to an electrolytic solution, low reactivity, and difficulty in expansion.

As the resin material constituting the base material, for example, polyolefin resin such as polypropylene or polyethylene, acrylic resin, styrene resin, polyester resin, nylon resin, or the like is preferably used. In particular, polyethylene such as low-density polyethylene, high-density polyethylene, and linear polyethylene, or a low-molecular-weight wax component thereof, or a polyolefin resin such as polypropylene are preferred because they have an appropriate melting temperature and are easily available. Further, a structure in which two or more kinds of these porous films are laminated or a porous film formed by melt-kneading two or more kinds of resin materials may be used. The separator including the porous film made of the polyolefin resin is excellent in separability from the positive electrode 21 and the negative electrode 22, and can further reduce a decrease in internal short circuits.

As the substrate, a nonwoven fabric may also be used. As fibers constituting the nonwoven fabric, aramid fibers, glass fibers, polyolefin fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers (PET), nylon fibers, or the like can be used. Further, two or more of these fibers may be mixed to form a nonwoven fabric.

The inorganic particles contain at least one of metal oxides, metal nitrides, metal carbides, metal sulfides, and the like. As the metal oxide, aluminum oxide (aluminum oxide, Al2O3), boehmite (hydrated alumina), magnesium oxide (magnesium oxide, MgO), titanium oxide (titanium oxide, TiO2), zirconium oxide (zirconium dioxide, ZrO2), silicon oxide (silicon dioxide, SiO2), yttrium oxide (yttrium oxide, Y2O3), or the like can be preferably used. As the metal nitride, silicon nitride (Si3N4), aluminum nitride (AlN), Boron Nitride (BN), titanium nitride (TiN), or the like can be preferably used. As the metal carbide, silicon carbide (SiC), boron carbide (B4C), or the like can be preferably used. Barium sulfate (BaSO4) or the like can be preferably used as the metal sulfide. In addition, a mineral such as porous aluminosilicate, layered silicate, barium titanate (BaTiO3) or strontium titanate (SrTiO3) such as zeolite (M2/nO. Al2O 3. xSiO 2. yH2O, M is a metal element, x.gtoreq.2, and y.gtoreq.0) may be used. Among them, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide (particularly, having a rutile structure), silicon dioxide, or magnesium oxide is preferably used, and aluminum oxide is more preferably used. The inorganic particles have oxidation resistance and heat resistance, and the surface layer on the side opposite to the positive electrode containing the inorganic particles has high resistance to an oxidation environment in the vicinity of the positive electrode even during charging. The shape of the inorganic particles is not particularly limited. Any shape of sphere, plate, fiber, cube, random, and the like can be used.

Examples of the resin material constituting the surface layer include resins having high heat resistance and at least one of a melting point and a glass transition temperature of 180 ℃ or higher, such as fluorine-containing resins including polyvinylidene fluoride and polytetrafluoroethylene, fluorine-containing rubbers including vinylidene fluoride-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer and ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer and a hydrogenated product thereof, acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer and a hydrogenated product thereof, methacrylate-acrylate copolymer, styrene-acrylate copolymer, acrylonitrile-acrylate copolymer, ethylene-propylene rubber, polyvinyl alcohol, rubbers including polyvinyl acetate, cellulose derivatives including ethyl cellulose, methyl cellulose, hydroxyethyl cellulose and carboxymethyl cellulose, and the like, Polyamides such as polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylene sulfide, polyetherimide, polyimide, and wholly aromatic polyamide (aramid), polyamideimide, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl alcohol, polyether, acrylic resin, and polyester. These resin materials may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Among them, fluorine-based resins such as polyvinylidene fluoride are preferable from the viewpoint of oxidation resistance and flexibility; from the viewpoint of heat resistance, aramid or polyamideimide is preferably contained.

The particle diameter of the inorganic particles is preferably in the range of 1nm to 10 μm. If the particle size is less than 1nm, it is difficult to obtain the particle size, or the cost is not low. On the other hand, if it exceeds 10 μm, the distance between electrodes becomes large, and the active material filling amount cannot be sufficiently obtained in a limited space, and the battery capacity becomes small.

As a method for forming the surface layer, for example, a method can be used in which a slurry containing a matrix resin, a solvent, and an inorganic substance is applied to a substrate (porous membrane), passed through a poor solvent of the matrix resin and a solvent-philic solvent bath of the above-mentioned solvents, subjected to phase separation, and then dried.

the porous film as a substrate may contain the above-mentioned inorganic particles. In addition, the surface layer may be composed of only the resin material without containing the inorganic particles.

(electrolyte)

The separator 23 is impregnated with an electrolytic solution as a liquid electrolyte. The electrolyte solution contains a solvent and an electrolyte salt dissolved in the solvent. The electrolyte may contain known additives for improving the battery characteristics.

As the solvent, a cyclic carbonate such as ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate can be used, and it is preferable to use either ethylene carbonate or propylene carbonate, and it is particularly preferable to use both ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate in a mixed manner. This is because the cycle characteristics can be improved.

As the solvent, in addition to these cyclic carbonates, chain carbonates such as diethyl carbonate, dimethyl carbonate, ethyl methyl carbonate, or propyl methyl carbonate are preferably used in combination. This is because high ion conductivity can be obtained.

The solvent further preferably contains 2, 4-difluoroanisole or vinylene carbonate. This is because 2, 4-difluoroanisole can improve the discharge capacity, and vinylene carbonate can improve the cycle characteristics. Accordingly, if these are used in combination, the discharge capacity and cycle characteristics can be improved, which is preferable.

In addition, examples of the solvent include butylene carbonate, γ -butyrolactone, γ -valerolactone, 1, 2-dimethoxyethane, tetrahydrofuran, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, 1, 3-dioxolane, 4-methyl-1, 3-dioxolane, methyl acetate, methyl propionate, acetonitrile, glutaronitrile, adiponitrile, methoxyacetonitrile, 3-methoxypropionitrile, N-dimethylformamide, N-methylpyrrolidone, N-methyloxazolidinone, N-dimethylimidazolidinone, nitromethane, nitroethane, sulfolane, dimethyl sulfoxide, and trimethyl phosphate.

Compounds obtained by substituting fluorine for at least a part of the hydrogen in these nonaqueous solvents are sometimes preferable because the reversibility of the electrode reaction may be improved depending on the kind of the electrode to be combined.

The electrolyte salt may be a lithium salt, and may be used alone or in combination of two or more. Examples of the lithium salt include LiPF6, LiBF4, LiAsF6, LiClO4, LiB (C6H5)4, LiCH3SO3, LiCF3SO3, LiN (SO2CF3)2, LiC (SO2CF3)3, LiAlCl4, LiSiF6, LiCl, difluoro [ oxalic acid-O, O' ] lithium borate, lithium bis (oxalato) borate, and LiBr. Among these, LiPF6 is preferable because it can achieve high ion conductivity and improve cycle characteristics.

[ Positive electrode potential ]

The positive electrode potential (vsLi/Li +) in the fully charged state is preferably greater than 4.20V, more preferably 4.25V or more, still more preferably greater than 4.40V, particularly preferably 4.45V or more, and most preferably 4.50V or more. However, the positive electrode potential (vsLi/Li +) in the fully charged state may be 4.20V or less. The upper limit of the positive electrode potential (vsLi/Li +) in the fully charged state is not particularly limited, but is preferably 6.00V or less, more preferably 5.00V or less, still more preferably 4.80V or less, and particularly preferably 4.70V or less.

[ operation of Battery ]

In the battery having the above configuration, when charging is performed, for example, lithium ions are released from the positive electrode active material layer 21B and are stored in the negative electrode active material layer 22B through the electrolytic solution. When the discharge is performed, for example, lithium ions are released from the negative electrode active material layer 22B and are absorbed in the positive electrode active material layer 21B through the electrolytic solution.

[ method for producing Battery ]

Next, an example of a method for manufacturing a battery according to a second embodiment of the present technology will be described.

First, for example, the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment, the conductive agent, and the binder are mixed to prepare a positive electrode mixture, and the positive electrode mixture is dispersed in a solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) to prepare a paste-like positive electrode mixture slurry. Subsequently, the positive electrode mixture slurry is applied to the positive electrode current collector 21A and the solvent is dried, and the positive electrode active material layer 21B is formed by compression molding by a roll press or the like, thereby forming the positive electrode 21.

For example, a negative electrode mixture is prepared by mixing a negative electrode active material and a binder, and the negative electrode mixture is dispersed in a solvent such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone to prepare a paste-like negative electrode mixture slurry. Subsequently, the negative electrode mixture slurry is applied to the negative electrode current collector 22A, the solvent is dried, and the negative electrode active material layer 22B is formed by compression molding using a roll press or the like, thereby producing the negative electrode 22.

subsequently, the cathode lead 25 is attached to the cathode current collector 21A by welding or the like, and the anode lead 26 is attached to the anode current collector 22A by welding or the like. Subsequently, the cathode 21 and the anode 22 are wound via the separator 23. Subsequently, the leading end portion of the positive electrode lead 25 is welded to the safety valve mechanism 15, the leading end portion of the negative electrode lead 26 is welded to the battery can 11, and the wound positive electrode 21 and negative electrode 22 are held between the pair of insulating plates 12 and 13 and are accommodated in the battery can 11. Subsequently, after the positive electrode 21 and the negative electrode 22 are housed inside the battery can 11, an electrolyte solution is injected into the battery can 11 to impregnate the separator 23 with the electrolyte solution. The battery cover 14, the safety valve mechanism 15, and the thermistor element 16 are then rivet-fixed at the open end of the battery can 11 via a seal gasket 17. Accordingly, a battery as shown in fig. 3 can be obtained.

[ Effect ]

In the battery according to the second embodiment, the positive electrode active material layer 21B contains the positive electrode active material according to the first embodiment, and therefore cracking of the positive electrode active material particles due to charge and discharge can be suppressed. Thus, a battery having good cycle characteristics can be realized. In particular, when the positive electrode potential (vsLi/Li +) in the fully charged state is greater than 4.40V, the above-described effect is remarkably exhibited.

<3 third embodiment >

[ constitution of Battery ]

as shown in fig. 5, the battery according to the third embodiment of the present technology is a so-called laminate film type battery, and is a battery in which a wound electrode body 30 having a positive electrode lead 31 and a negative electrode lead 32 mounted thereon is accommodated inside a film-shaped outer package 40, and can be reduced in size, weight, and thickness.

The positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32 are respectively led out from the inside of the outer package 40 toward the outside, for example, in the same direction. The positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32 are each made of a metal material such as aluminum, copper, nickel, or stainless steel, and are each formed in a thin plate shape or a mesh shape.

The outer package 40 is made of, for example, a rectangular aluminum laminated film in which a nylon film, an aluminum foil, and a polyethylene film are laminated in this order. The outer package material 40 is disposed so that the polyethylene film side faces the wound electrode assembly 30, for example, and the outer edge portions are closely attached to each other by welding or an adhesive. A bonding film 41 is inserted between the exterior material 40 and the positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32 to prevent the intrusion of outside air. The adhesive film 41 is made of a material having adhesiveness to the positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32, for example, a polyolefin resin such as polyethylene, polypropylene, modified polyethylene, or modified polypropylene.

Instead of the aluminum laminated film, the outer cover 40 may be formed of a laminated film having another structure, a polymer film such as polypropylene, or a metal film. Alternatively, a laminate film having an aluminum film as a core and a polymer film laminated on one or both surfaces thereof may be used.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view showing the wound electrode body 30 shown in fig. 5 along line VI-VI. The wound electrode body 30 is a wound member in which the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34 are laminated via the separator 35 and the electrolyte layer 36, and the outermost periphery is protected by a protective tape 37.

the positive electrode 33 has a structure in which a positive electrode active material layer 33B is provided on one surface or both surfaces of a positive electrode current collector 33A. The negative electrode 34 has a structure in which a negative electrode active material layer 34B is provided on one surface or both surfaces of a negative electrode current collector 34A, and the negative electrode active material layer 34B is disposed so as to face the positive electrode active material layer 33B. The positive electrode current collector 33A, the positive electrode active material layer 33B, the negative electrode current collector 34A, the negative electrode active material layer 34B, and the separator 35 have the same configurations as the positive electrode current collector 21A, the positive electrode active material layer 21B, the negative electrode current collector 22A, the negative electrode active material layer 22B, and the separator 23 in the second embodiment, respectively.

The electrolyte layer 36 is in a so-called gel state including an electrolyte solution and a polymer compound as a holding body for holding the electrolyte solution. The gel-like electrolyte layer 36 is preferable because it can achieve high ion conductivity and can prevent leakage of the battery. The electrolyte solution is the electrolyte solution according to the second embodiment. Examples of the polymer compound include polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride, a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, polytetrafluoroethylene, polyhexafluoropropylene, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene, polyphosphazene, polysiloxane, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polymethyl methacrylate, polyacrylic acid, polymethacrylic acid, styrene-butadiene rubber, nitrile rubber, polystyrene, and polycarbonate. In particular, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyhexafluoropropylene, or polyoxyethylene is preferable from the viewpoint of electrochemical stability.

In addition, the electrolyte layer 36 may also contain inorganic particles. This is because the heat resistance can be further improved. The same inorganic particles as those contained in the surface layer of the separator 23 according to the second embodiment can be used as the inorganic particles. In addition, an electrolytic solution may be used instead of the electrolyte layer 36.

[ method for producing Battery ]

next, an example of a method for manufacturing a battery according to a third embodiment of the present technology will be described.

first, precursor solutions containing a solvent, an electrolyte salt, a polymer compound, and a mixed solvent are applied to the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34, respectively, and the mixed solvent is volatilized to form the electrolyte layer 36. Subsequently, the cathode lead 31 is attached to the end of the cathode current collector 33A by welding, and the anode lead 32 is attached to the end of the anode current collector 34A by welding. Subsequently, the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34 on which the electrolyte layer 36 is formed are laminated via the separator 35 to form a laminate, and then the laminate is wound in the longitudinal direction thereof, and the protective tape 37 is bonded to the outermost periphery of the laminate to form the wound electrode body 30. Finally, for example, the wound electrode assembly 30 is sandwiched between the outer packaging materials 40, and the outer edge portions of the outer packaging materials 40 are bonded to each other by thermal fusion bonding or the like and sealed. At this time, the adhesive film 41 is inserted between the positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32 and the outer package 40. This makes it possible to obtain the battery shown in fig. 5 and 6.

In addition, the battery may be manufactured as follows. First, the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34 are produced as described above, and the positive electrode lead 31 and the negative electrode lead 32 are attached to the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34. Subsequently, the positive electrode 33 and the negative electrode 34 are stacked and wound with the separator 35 interposed therebetween, and the protective tape 37 is bonded to the outermost peripheral portion to form a wound body. Subsequently, the roll is sandwiched between outer packaging materials 40, and the outer peripheral edge portions except one side are heat-fused to form a bag shape, so that the roll is housed inside the outer packaging materials 40. Subsequently, an electrolyte composition containing a solvent, an electrolyte salt, a monomer as a raw material of the polymer compound, a polymerization initiator, and other materials such as a polymerization inhibitor determined as necessary is prepared and injected into the outer package 40.

Subsequently, after the electrolyte composition is injected into the outer package 40, the opening of the outer package 40 is heat-fused and sealed under vacuum atmosphere. Subsequently, the monomer is polymerized into a polymer compound by heating to form the gel electrolyte layer 36. The batteries shown in fig. 5 and 6 can be obtained as described above.

<4 application example 1>

Battery pack and electronic device as application example "

In application example 1, a battery pack and an electronic device according to the second or third embodiment will be described.

[ constructions of Battery pack and electronic device ]

Hereinafter, one configuration example of the battery pack 300 and the electronic device 400 as an application example will be described with reference to fig. 7. The electronic device 400 includes a circuit 401 of the electronic device main body and the battery pack 300. The battery pack 300 is electrically connected to the circuit 401 via the positive electrode terminal 331a and the negative electrode terminal 331 b. The electronic apparatus 400 is configured such that the battery pack 300 can be attached and detached freely by a user, for example. The configuration of the electronic apparatus 400 is not limited to this, and the battery pack 300 may be built in the electronic apparatus 400 so that the battery pack 300 cannot be detached from the electronic apparatus 400 by the user.

When the battery pack 300 is charged, the positive terminal 331a and the negative terminal 331b of the battery pack 300 are connected to a positive terminal and a negative terminal of a charger (not shown), respectively. On the other hand, when the battery pack 300 is discharged (when the electronic device 400 is used), the positive terminal 331a and the negative terminal 331b of the battery pack 300 are connected to the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the circuit 401, respectively.

Examples of the electronic device 400 include a notebook Personal computer, a tablet Personal computer, a mobile phone (e.g., a smartphone), a portable information terminal (Personal Digital Assistants (PDA)), a display device (LCD (liquid crystal display), an EL (light emitting diode) display, electronic paper, etc.), an imaging device (e.g., a Digital still camera, a Digital video recorder, etc.), an audio device (e.g., a portable audio player), a game device, a cordless telephone extension, an electronic book, an electronic dictionary, a radio, a headset, a navigation system, a memory card, a cardiac pacemaker, a hearing aid, an electric tool, an electric shaver, a refrigerator, an air conditioner, a television, a stereo, a water heater, a microwave oven, a dishwasher, a washing machine, a dryer, an illumination device, a toy, a medical device, a robot, a stereo, a music player, a microwave oven, a washing machine, a dryer, a lighting device, a toy, a medical device, Load regulators (load regulators), semaphores, and the like, but are not limited thereto.

(electric circuit)

The circuit 401 includes, for example, a CPU (central processing unit), a peripheral logic unit, an interface unit, a memory unit, and the like, and controls the entire electronic apparatus 400.

(Battery pack)

The battery pack 300 includes a battery pack 301 and a charge/discharge circuit 302. The assembled battery 301 is configured by connecting a plurality of secondary batteries 301a in series and/or in parallel. For example, the plurality of secondary batteries 301a are connected in a series of m parallel pieces (n and m are positive integers). Fig. 7 shows an example in which 6 secondary batteries 301a are connected in 2 parallel and 3 series (2P 3S). The secondary battery 301a can be the battery according to the second or third embodiment.

here, although the description has been given of the case where the battery pack 300 includes the assembled battery 301 including the plurality of secondary batteries 301a, the battery pack 300 may be configured to include one secondary battery 301a instead of the assembled battery 301.

The charge/discharge circuit 302 is a control unit that controls charge/discharge of the battery 301. Specifically, the charge/discharge circuit 302 controls charging of the battery pack 301 during charging. On the other hand, at the time of discharge (i.e., at the time of using the electronic device 400), the charge and discharge circuit 302 controls discharge to the electronic device 400.

<5 application example 2>

"electric storage System in vehicle as application example"

an example in which the present disclosure is applied to a power storage system for a vehicle will be described with reference to fig. 8. Fig. 8 schematically shows an example of a configuration of a hybrid vehicle to which the series hybrid system of the present disclosure is applied. The series hybrid system is a vehicle that runs by using electric power generated by a generator operated by an engine or electric power temporarily stored in a battery and through an electric power drive force conversion device.

The hybrid vehicle 7200 is mounted with an engine 7201, a generator 7202, an electric power-drive power conversion device 7203, drive wheels 7204a, drive wheels 7204b, wheels 7205a, wheels 7205b, a battery 7208, a vehicle control device 7209, various sensors 7210, and a charging port 7211. The power storage device of the present disclosure described above is applied to battery 7208.

Hybrid vehicle 7200 runs with electric-power drive force conversion device 7203 as a power source. An example of the electric power drive force conversion device 7203 is a motor. The electric power-drive force conversion device 7203 is operated by the electric power of the battery 7208, and the rotational force of the electric power-drive force conversion device 7203 is transmitted to the drive wheels 7204a and 7204 b. Further, by using direct current-alternating current (DC-AC) or reverse conversion (AC-DC conversion) at a desired position, the electric power drive force conversion device 7203 can be applied to both an alternating current motor and a direct current motor. Various sensors 7210 control the number of engine revolutions via the vehicle control device 7209, and control the degree of opening of a throttle valve (throttle opening degree) not shown in the drawing. The various sensors 7210 include a speed sensor, an acceleration sensor, an engine revolution sensor, and the like.

The rotational force of the engine 7201 is transmitted to the generator 7202, and the electric power generated by the generator 7202 by the rotational force can be stored in the battery 7208.

When the hybrid vehicle is decelerated by a brake mechanism not shown in the drawings, resistance at the time of the deceleration is added to the electric-drive power conversion device 7203 as rotational force, and regenerative electric power generated by the electric-drive power conversion device 7203 by the rotational force is stored in the battery 7208.

Battery 7208 is connected to an external power supply of the hybrid vehicle, receives electric power from the external power supply with charging port 211 as an input port, and can store the received electric power.

Although not shown in the drawings, an information processing device that performs information processing regarding vehicle control based on information regarding the secondary battery may be provided. As such an information processing device, for example, an information processing device that displays the remaining battery level based on information on the remaining battery level, and the like are known.

In addition, the series hybrid vehicle has been described above as an example in which the vehicle travels by a motor using electric power generated by a generator operated by an engine or electric power temporarily stored in a battery. However, the present disclosure can also be effectively applied to a parallel hybrid vehicle in which both the outputs of the engine and the motor are drive sources, and three modes of running only with the engine, running only with the motor, and running with the engine and the motor are appropriately switched and used. The present disclosure can be effectively applied to a so-called electric vehicle that runs only by driving a drive motor without using an engine.

the above description has been made of an example of a hybrid vehicle 7200 to which the technology according to the present disclosure can be applied. The technique according to the present disclosure can be preferably applied to the battery 7208 having the above-described configuration.

<6 application example 3>

"storage System in House as application example"

An example of a residential power storage system to which the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to fig. 9. For example, in power storage system 9100 for house 9001, electric power is supplied from concentrated power system 9002 such as thermal power generation 9002a, nuclear power generation 9002b, and hydroelectric power generation 9002c to power storage device 9003 via power network 9009, information network 9012, smart meter 9007, power hub 9008, and the like. At the same time, power is supplied to the power storage device 9003 from an independent power source such as the self-generating power generation device 9004. The electric power supplied to power storage device 9003 is stored. Power storage device 9003 is used to supply electric power used in house 9001. And the same power storage system can be used not only for house 9001 but also for buildings.

a power generation device 9004, a power consumption device 9005, a power storage device 9003, a control device 9010 that controls the devices, a smart meter 9007, and a sensor 9011 that acquires various information are provided in a house 9001. The devices are connected via a power grid 9009 and an information grid 9012. A solar cell, a fuel cell, or the like is used as the power generation device 9004, and the power generated is supplied to the power consumption device 9005 and/or the power storage device 9003. The power consumption devices 9005 include a refrigerator 9005a, an air conditioner 9005b, a television 9005c, a bathroom 9005d, and the like. Further, an electric vehicle 9006 is included in the power consumption device 9005. The electric vehicle 9006 includes an electric vehicle 9006a, a hybrid vehicle 9006b, and an electric motorcycle 9006 c.

The battery unit of the present disclosure described above is applied to power storage device 9003. Power storage device 9003 is formed of a secondary battery or a capacitor. For example, it is constituted by a lithium ion battery. The lithium ion battery may be a stationary type or may be used for the electric vehicle 9006. The smart meter 9007 has a function of measuring a usage amount of commercial power and transmitting the measured usage amount to a power company. The power grid 9009 may be supplied with any one or a combination of dc power, ac power, and non-contact power.

The various sensors 9011 are, for example, a human body sensor, a brightness sensor, an object detection sensor, a power consumption sensor, a vibration sensor, a contact sensor, a temperature sensor, an infrared sensor, and the like. Information acquired by the various sensors 9011 is transmitted to the control device 9010. The power consumption device 9005 can be automatically controlled to minimize energy consumption while grasping weather conditions, human conditions, and the like, based on the information from the sensor 9011. Further, control device 9010 can transmit information about house 9001 to an external power company or the like via the internet.

The power hub 9008 realizes processing such as power line branching and dc/ac conversion. As communication methods of the information network 9012 connected to the control device 9010, there are: a method of using a communication interface such as UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver-Transmitter: Asynchronous serial communication transceiver circuit), and a method of using a sensor network according to a wireless communication standard such as Bluetooth (registered trademark), ZigBee (registered trademark), Wi-Fi (wireless hot spot). The Bluetooth (registered trademark) system is applied to multimedia communication, and communication by one-to-many connection is possible. ZigBee (registered trademark) is a wireless communication standard using a communication protocol of the physical layer of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers ) 802.15.4. Ieee802.15.4 is the name of a short-range wireless Network standard called PAN (Personal Area Network) or w (wireless) PAN (wireless Personal Area Network).

The control device 9010 is connected to an external server 9013. The server 9013 may be managed by any one of the house 9001, the electric power company, and the service provider. The information transmitted and received by the server 9013 is, for example, power consumption information, life pattern information, electricity charges, weather information, natural disaster information, and information on power transactions. These pieces of information may be transmitted and received by an in-home power consumption device (e.g., a television) or may be transmitted and received by an out-of-home device (e.g., a mobile phone). Such information may be displayed on a device having a display function, such as a television, a portable telephone, a PDA (Personal Digital assistant), or the like.

The control device 9010 for controlling each Unit is configured by a CPU (central processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and is stored in the power storage device 9003 in this example. The control device 9010 is connected to an electric storage device 9003, a self-generating power generation device 9004, a power consumption device 9005, various sensors 9011, and a server 9013 via an information network 9012. In addition, a function of trading electric power in the electric power market may be additionally provided.

As described above, the power storage device 9003 can store not only the power of the centralized power system 9002 such as the thermal power 9002a, the nuclear power 9002b, and the hydraulic power 9002c but also the generated power of the self-generating power generation device 9004 (photovoltaic power generation, wind power generation). Therefore, even if the generated power of the self-generating power generator 9004 varies, it is possible to perform control such that the amount of power to be output to the outside is constant or discharge only as needed. For example, the following methods can be used: the electric power obtained by photovoltaic power generation is stored in the electric storage device 9003, and the late-night electric power with a low electricity rate is stored in the electric storage device 9003 at night, and the electric power stored in the electric storage device 9003 is discharged and used in a time zone with a high daytime cost.

In this example, although the control device 9010 is described as being housed in the power storage device 9003, it may be housed in the smart meter 9007 or may be separately configured. Further, power storage system 9100 may be used for a plurality of households in a collective housing, or may be used for a plurality of individual housings.

In the above description, an example of power storage system 9100 to which the technology according to the present disclosure can be applied has been described, and in the configuration described above, the technology according to the present disclosure is preferably applied to a secondary battery including power storage device 9003.