Evaluation of particle size of positive electrode active material

This presentation introduces the composition analysis of active materials in cathode materials using ICP emission analysis. The cathode material in lithium-ion batteries (LIB) is one of the important components that influence the battery's voltage and energy density, and the composition of the cathode material significantly affects the battery's performance. ICP emission analysis allows for qualitative and quantitative analysis of approximately 70 elements, primarily metal elements. In addition to composition analysis of LIB cathode materials, it can also be applied to various analyses, including qualitative and quantitative analysis of additives and impurities contained in samples, as well as quantitative analysis of substances regulated by the RoHS directive.

We would like to introduce a case of particle size measurement of positive electrode active materials using laser diffraction conducted by our company. In air or liquid, laser light is irradiated onto the particles, and the angular dependence of the intensity of the light scattered by the particles is measured. By measuring the angular dependence of the scattered light intensity, the particle size distribution (particle size distribution) is calculated from the data. Using commercially available reagents as samples, measurements were conducted in a dry state without dispersing in a solvent. The particle size measurement results for NMC oxide showed a monodisperse state with particle sizes below several tens of micrometers, and the median diameter was calculated to be 12 micrometers.