| abstract |
Electrode active materials comprising lithium or other alkali metals, a transition metal, a phosphate or similar moiety, and a halogen or hydroxyl moiety. Such electrode actives include those of the formula: AaMb(XY4)cZd, wherein (a) A is selected from the group consisting of Li, Na, K, and mixtures thereof, and 0<a≤6; (b) M comprises one or more metals, comprising at least one metal which is capable of undergoing oxidation to a higher valence state, and 1 ≤ b ≤ 3; (c) XY4 is selected from the group consisting of X'O4-XY'X, X'O4-yY'2y, X'S4, and mixtures thereof, where X' is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge, S, and mixtures thereof; X'' is P, As, Sb, Si, Ge and mixtures thereof; Y' is halogen; 0≤5 x < 3; and 0 < y < 4; and 0<c≤3; (d) Z is OH, halogen, or mixtures thereof, and 0 < d≤ 6; and wherein M, X, Y, Z, a, b, c, d, x and y are selected so as to maintain electroneutrality of said compound. In a preferred embodiment, M comprises two or more transition metals from Groups 4 to 11 of the Periodic Table. In another preferred embodiment, M comprises M'M'', where M' is at least one transition metal from Groups 4 to 11 of the Periodic Table; and M' is at least one element from Groups 2, 3, 12, 13, or 14 of the Periodic Table. Preferred embodiments include those having where c = 1, those where c = 2, and those where c=3. Preferred embodiments include those where a≤ 1 and c = 1, those where a = 2 and c = 1, and those where a ≥ 3 and c=3. This invention also provides electrodes comprising an electrode active material of this invention, and batteries that comprise a first electrode having an electrode active material of this invention; a second electrode having a compatible active material; and an electrolyte. |