ZrO2- and Li2ZrO3-stabilized spinel and layered electrodes for lithium batteries

Strategies for countering the solubility of LiMn2O4 (spinel) electrodes at 50 degreesC and for suppressing the reactivity of layered LiMO2 (M = Co, Ni, Mn, Li) electrodes at high potentials are discussed. Surface treatment of LiMn2O4 with colloidal zirconia (ZrO2) dramatically improves the cycling stability of the spinel electrode at 50 degreesC in Li/LiMn2O4 cells. ZrO2-coated LiMn0.5Ni0.5O2 electrodes provide a superior capacity and cycling stability to uncoated electrodes when charged to a high potential (4.6 V vs Li-0). The use of Li2ZrO3, which is structurally more compatible with spinel and layered electrodes than ZrO2 and which can act as a Li+-ion conductor, has been evaluated in composite 0.03Li(2)ZrO(3) . 0.97LiMn(0.5)Ni(0.5)O(2) electrodes; glassy LixZr2+x/2 (0 < x less than or equal to 2) products can be produced from colloidal ZrO2 for surface coatings. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.