# Patent

## Title
Positive electrode active substance for lithium ion batteries, positive electrode for lithium ion batteries, and lithium ion battery

## Abstract

The present invention provides a positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery which has high capacity and good rate characteristics. The positive electrode active material has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Liα(NiβMe1-β)Oγ, wherein Me represents at least one type selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu and Zr, x denotes a number from 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number from 0.5 to 0.65, and z denotes a number of 1.9 or more. The positive electrode active material is selected by measuring the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) and selecting materials within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−20.186x+59.079, y=35x−99.393, and y=−32.946x+95.78, wherein the x-axis represents a lattice constant a and the y-axis represents a compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery, a positive electrode for lithium ion battery, and a lithium ion battery.
2. Description of Related Art
A lithium-containing transition metal oxide is generally used as the positive electrode active material of a lithium ion battery. Specific examples of the lithium-containing transition metal oxide include lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2), lithium nickelate (LiNiO2), and lithium manganate (LiMn2O4). The complexation of these metal oxides is undergone to improve the characteristics (high capacity, cycle characteristics, preserving characteristics, reduction in internal resistance, and rate characteristics) and safety. The characteristics different from those required for lithium ion batteries in mobile telephones and personal computers are required for lithium ion batteries used in large-sized battery applications such as car applications and road leveling applications. Particularly, high capacity and rate characteristics are regarded as important.
Various methods have been used to attain high capacity and to improve the rate characteristics. For example, Patent document 1 discloses a lithium battery positive electrode made of a complex oxide represented by the general formula LiwNixCoyAlzO2 (wherein w=0.90 to 1.10, x=0.80 to 0.95, y=0.04 to 0.19, z=0.01 to 0.16, and x+y+z=1.0) and also describes that a lithium battery positive electrode material, which has a large discharged capacity, is reduced in the deteriorations of battery characteristics caused by repetitive charge/discharge, is superior in cycle characteristics, is limited in the generation of gas caused by the decomposition of a positive electrode material after charged, and improved in preservability/safety, can be provided.
Also, Patent document 2 discloses a complex oxide represented by the general formula AwDvNixAlyNzO2 (wherein A represents at least one type selected from alkali metals, D represents at least one type selected from Mg and B, N represents at least one type selected from Si, Ca, Cu, P, In, Sn, Mo, Nb, Y, Bi, and Ga, w, v, x, y, and z respectively denote a number given by the following formulae: 0.05≦w≦1.2, 0.001≦v≦0.2, 0.5≦x≦0.9, 0.1<y≦0.5, and 0.001≦z≦0.2) as a positive electrode active material in a battery which comprises a negative electrode, a positive electrode, and a nonaqueous electrolyte including a lithium salt and can be plurally charged/discharged reversively. Patent document 2 also describes that this oxide enables a secondary battery positive electrode material to excel in all battery characteristics such as high capacitization, long life, rate characteristics, high-temperature characteristics, and safety.

    (Patent document 1) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-321224
    (Patent document 2) Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 10-208744


SUMMARY OF INVENTION
However, high capacitization and rate characteristics are important characteristics required for a battery and there is a room for improvement of a high-quality positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery.
In view of this situation, an object of the present invention is to provide a positive electrode material for lithium ion battery having a high capacity and good rate characteristics.
The inventors have made earnest studies, and as a result, attracted their attentions to the relation between the lattice constant a of the positive electrode active material, compositional ratio of Li to metals (M) other than Li, and battery characteristics, to find that a battery produced using the positive electrode active material has good characteristics if the coordinates of a lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within a predetermined region on a graph in which the x-axis represents the lattice constant a and the y-axis represents the compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M.
According to a first aspect of the present invention completed based on the above teachings, there is provided a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Lix(NiyMe1-y)Oz (wherein Me represents at least one type selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu and Zr, x denotes a number from 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number from 0.5 to 0.6 and z denotes a number of 1.9 or more), wherein the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−20.186x+59.079, y=35x−99.393, and y=−32.946x+95.78 on a graph in which the x-axis represents a lattice constant a and the y-axis represents a compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M.
In an embodiment of the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery according to the present invention, the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−15x+44.18, y=33.33x−94.665, and y=−200x+575.92, and the lattice constant c is 14.2 to 14.25.
In another embodiment of the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery according to the present invention, M is one metal selected from the group consisting of Ni, Mn, and Co.
According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a positive electrode for lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode active material according to the present invention.
According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode for lithium ion battery according to the present invention.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which has a high capacity and good rate characteristics can be provided.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING
FIG. 1 is a graph of “lattice constant a”-“compositional ratio of Li/M” according to an example.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
(Structure of Positive Electrode Active Material for Lithium Ion Battery)
As the material of the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery according to the present invention, compounds useful as the positive electrode active material for the positive electrode of usual lithium ion batteries may be widely used. It is particularly preferable to use a lithium-containing transition metal oxide such as lithium cobaltate (LiCoO2), lithium nickelate (LiNiO2), and lithium manganate (LiMn2O4). The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which is produced using materials like the above has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula: Lix(NiyMe1-y)Oz (wherein Me represents at least one type selected from Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu and Zr, x denotes a number from 0.9 to 1.2, y denotes a number from 0.5 to 0.65, and z denotes a number of 1.9 or more).
The ratio of lithium to the total metals in the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery is 0.9 to 1.2. It is because a stable crystal structure is scarcely kept when the ratio is less than 0.9 whereas high capacity of the battery cannot be secured when the ratio exceeds 1.2.
The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery according to the present invention has the characteristics that the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−20.186x+59.079, y=35x−99.393, and y=−32.946x+95.78 on a graph in which the x-axis represents the lattice constant a and the y-axis represents the compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M, and the lattice constant c is 14.2 to 14.25. When the lattice constant c is 14.2 to 14.25 and the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the above described region, the battery capacity using the positive electrode active material can be increased and the rate characteristics can be excellent.
Also, the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are preferably within a narrower region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−15x+44.18, y=33.33x−94.665, and y=−200x+575.92, and the lattice constant c is preferably 14.22 to 14.25.
The positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery is constituted of primary particles, secondary particles formed from aggregated primary particles, or a mixture of primary particles and secondary particles. The average particle diameter of these primary and secondary particles of the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery is preferably 2 to 8 μm.
When the average particle diameter is less than 2 μm, this makes it difficult to apply the positive electrode active material to the current collector. When the average particle diameter exceeds 8 μm, voids are easily produced when the active material particles are filled, leading to less fillability. The average particle diameter is more preferably 3 to 6 μm.
(Structure of Positive Electrode for Lithium Ion Battery and Lithium Ion Battery Using Positive Electrode)
The positive electrode for lithium ion battery according to an embodiment of the present invention has a structure in which a positive electrode mix prepared by blending, for example, a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery which has the aforementioned structure, a conductive adjuvant, and a binder is applied to one or both surfaces of a current collector made of an aluminum foil or the like. Also, a lithium ion battery according to the embodiment of the present invention is provided with the positive electrode for lithium ion battery having such a structure.
(Method for Producing Positive Electrode Active Material for Lithium Ion Battery)
Next, a method for producing a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery according to the embodiment of the present invention will be explained in detail.
First, a metal salt solution containing an oxidant is prepared. The metal salt is a sulfate, chloride, nitrate, acetate, or the like and, particularly, a nitrate is preferable. This is because the nitrate can be calcined as it is, so that a cleaning process can be omitted, even if the nitrate is mixed as impurities in the calcination raw material, and the nitrate functions as an oxidant to promote oxidation of metals in the calcination raw material. The metal contained in the metal salt is Ni and at least one or more types selected from Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu, and Zr. As the nitrate of a metal, for example, nickel nitrate, cobalt nitrate, or manganese nitrate may be used. At this time, the metal salt is prepared such that each metal is contained in a desired molar ratio. The molar ratio of each metal in the positive electrode active material is thereby determined.
Next, lithium carbonate is suspended in pure water, and then, a metal salt solution of the above metal is poured into the mixture to produce a lithium salt solution slurry. At this time, lithium-containing carbonate microparticles precipitate in the slurry. In this case, a sulfate or chloride is washed with a saturated lithium carbonate solution and then separated by filtration when the lithium compound does not react with the metal salt in the heat-treatment. When, like the case of using a nitrate or acetate, the lithium compound reacts as the lithium raw material during heat treatment, these metal salts are not washed and separated as it is by filtration, followed by drying, thereby enabling the salt to be used as a calcination precursor.
Next, the separated lithium-containing carbonate is dried to obtain a lithium salt composite (precursor of a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery) powder.
Next, a sagger having a predetermined capacity is prepared and the powder of the precursor of a positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery is filled in the sagger. Next, the sagger filled with the powder of the precursor of the positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery is transferred to a kiln to calcine. The calcination is performed by keeping the sagger with heating for a predetermined time in an oxygen atmosphere. Also, it is desirable that the calcination is performed under a pressure of 101 to 202 KPa because the quantity of oxygen in the composition is increased. The calcination temperature is 700 to 1100° C., and the calcination is carried out preferably at 700 to 950° C. when y in the above formula satisfies the equation: 0<y≦0.5 and at 850 to 1100° C. when y in the above formula satisfies the equation: 0.5<y≦0.9. The crystallinity of the positive electrode active material is largely caused by the relation between the composition and calcination temperature. At this time, there is the case where even a small difference in composition affects the crystallinity of the positive electrode active material though depending on the range of calcination temperature. When the positive electrode active material precursor is made to have a proper compositional ratio and calcined at a proper calcination temperature corresponding to the compositional ratio, the crystallinity of the positive electrode active material is improved to make a high-performance positive electrode active material. Also, the crystallinity of the positive electrode active material is affected not only by the above factor but also by the grain size of the precursor and the amount of lithium carbonate used as the raw material. When the amount of lithium carbonate is large and a lot of lithium is contained in the positive electrode material precursor, the calcination proceeds smoothly. In this case, the lattice constant c is decreased with increase in calcination temperature whereas the lattice constant c is increased with decrease in calcination temperature because the calcination is insufficient.
After that, the powder is taken out of the sagger and ground to obtain a positive electrode active material powder.
In this case, when a nitrate is used as the metal salt to be poured in the production of the lithium salt solution slurry, a positive electrode active material containing oxygen exceeding that in the compositional formula is finally produced. Also, when the calcination of the positive electrode precursor is performed not under atmospheric pressure but under a predetermined pressure, a positive electrode active material containing oxygen exceeding that in the compositional formula is finally produced. When the positive electrode active material contains oxygen exceeding that in the compositional formula as mentioned above, a battery using the positive electrode active material is improved in various characteristics.
EXAMPLES
Although examples are provided for facilitating understanding of the present invention and its advantage, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.
Examples 1 to 29
First, lithium carbonate to be charged in an amount as described in Table 1 was suspended in 3.2 liter of pure water, and then, 4.8 liter of a metal salt solution was added to the mixture. Here, the metal salt solution was prepared in such a manner that the compositional ratio of a hydrate of a nitrate of each metal was that described in Table 1 and the number of moles of all metals was 14.
In this case, the amount of lithium carbonate to be suspended is a value at which x in the formula Lix(NiyMe1-y)Oz of a product (positive electrode for lithium ion secondary battery, that is, positive electrode active material) accords to that described in Table 1 and is calculated according to the following equation.

W(g)=73.9×14×(1+0.5X)×A 

In the above formula, “A” is a value multiplied in order to subtract, in advance, the amount of lithium originated from a lithium compound other than lithium carbonate left in the raw material after filtration besides the amount required for the precipitation reaction. “A” is 0.9 when, like the case of using a nitrate or acetate, the lithium salt reacts as the calcination raw material, and 1.0 when, like the case of using a sulfate or chloride, the lithium salt does not react as the calcination raw material.
Though lithium-containing carbonate microparticles were precipitated in the solution by this treatment, this precipitate was separated by filtration using a filter press.
Subsequently, the precipitate was dried to obtain a lithium-containing carbonate (precursor of positive electrode active material for lithium ion battery).
Next, a sagger was prepared to fill the lithium-containing carbonate therein. Next, the sagger was placed in an oxygen ambient furnace under atmospheric pressure and heated to 800 to 940° C. for 4 hr. Then, the sagger was kept at this temperature under heating for 12 to 30 hr and then, allowed to cool for 3 hr to obtain an oxide. Then, the obtained oxide was pulverized to obtain a positive electrode active material powder for lithium ion battery.
Example 30
In Example 30, the same procedures as in Examples 1 to 29 were carried out except that each metal of the raw material was altered to the composition shown in Table 1, and a chloride was used as the metal salt to precipitate a lithium-containing carbonate, which was then washed with a saturated lithium carbonate solution, followed by filtration.
Example 31
In Example 31, the same procedures as in Examples 1 to 29 were carried out except that each metal of the raw material was altered to the composition shown in Table 1 and a sulfate was used as the metal salt to precipitate a lithium-containing carbonate, which was then washed with a saturated lithium carbonate solution, followed by filtration.
Example 32
In Example 32, the same procedures as in Examples 1 to 29 were carried out except that each metal of the raw material was altered to the composition shown in Table 1 and the calcination was performed not under atmospheric pressure but under a pressure of 120 KPa.
Comparative Examples 1 to 22
In Comparative Examples 1 to 22, the same procedures as in Examples 1 to 29 were carried out except that each metal in the raw material was altered to the composition shown in Table 1.











TABLE 1









Li2CO3

calcination



suspension
compositional ratio (%) of each metal in all metals except Li
temperature




















solution(g)
Ni
Co
Mn
Ti
Cr
Fe
Cu
Al
Sn
Mg
(° C.)
























Example
1
1397
55
25
20







900



2
1406
55
25
20







850



3
1397
60
15
25







800



4
1397
60
15
20
2.5





2.5
850



5
1397
60
15
20
2.5





2.5
850



6
1397
60
15
20
5






800



7
1397
60
15
20

5





800



8
1397
60
15
20


5




800



9
1397
60
15
20



5



800



10
1397
60
15
20




5


800



11
1397
60
15
20





5

820



12
1406
60
15
20






5
820



13
1415
60
15
20






5
820



14
1406
50
30
20







880



15
1397
50
30
20







860



16
1397
65
20
15







820



17
1397
65
25
5
2.5





2.5
850



18
1397
65
25
5

5





850



19
1397
65
25
5


5




850



20
1397
65
25
5



5



850



21
1397
65
25
5




5


850



22
1397
65
25
5





5

850



23
1397
65
25
5






5
850



24
1397
60
30
5
2.5





2.5
850



25
1397
60
30
5




5


850



26
1397
60
30
10







860



27
1406
60
30
10







860



28
1397
60
20
20







860



29
1397
60
20
15




5


880



30
1500
60
15
25







820



31
1500
60
15
25







800



32
1397
60
15
25







820


Compar-
1
1397
55
25
20







940


ative
2
1406
55
25
20







880


Example
3
1397
60
15
25







830



4
1406
60
15
25







860



5
1415
60
15
25







860



6
1397
60
15
20
2.5





2.5
820



7
1397
60
15
20
5






820



8
1397
60
15
20

5





820



9
1397
60
15
20


5




820



10
1397
60
15
20



5



820



11
1397
60
15
20




5


820



12
1397
60
15
20





5

840



13
1397
60
15
20






5
840



14
1397
50
30
20







900



15
1406
60
30
10







870



16
1397
65
25
5
2.5





2.5
870



17
1397
65
25
5
5






870



18
1397
65
25
5

5





870



19
1393
65
25
5


5




870



20
1393
65
25
5



5



870



21
1397
50
30
20







890



22
1397
60
15
25







820









(Evaluation)

The contents of Li, Ni, Mn, and Co in each positive electrode active material were measured by induction coupling plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) to calculate the compositional ratio (molar ratio) of each metal. Also, the crystal structure was confirmed to be a layer structure by X-ray diffraction.
Moreover, each positive electrode material was measured by powder XRD diffraction to find the lattice constant from the diffraction pattern. Also, among the measured factors, the lattice constant a was made to lie on the x-axis and the compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M (all metals excluding Li) found from MS analysis was made to lie on the y-axis to draw a graph as shown in FIG. 1.
The positive electrode material, a conductive material, and a binder were weighed in a ratio of 85:8:7. The positive electrode active material and the conductive material were mixed in a solution prepared by dissolving the binder in an organic solvent (N-methylpyrrolidone) into a slurry, which was then applied to the surface of an Al foil and pressed after dried to produce a positive electrode. In succession, a 2032-type coin cell for evaluation in which Li was used as the counter electrode was manufactured and an electrolytic solution prepared by dissolving 1M-LiPF6 in EC-DMC (1:1) was used. Then, the coin cell impregnated with the electrolytic solution was used to calculate the battery capacity ratio of a battery capacity at 1 C to a battery capacity at 0.2 C to obtain the rate characteristics of the battery. These results are shown in Table 2.














TABLE 2











discharged
rate



lattice
lattice
lattice

capacity(0.2 C)
characteristics



constant a
constant c
volume v
Li/M
(A · h/g)
(%)























Example
1
2.8721
14.2318
101.666
1.131
171
88



2
2.8725
14.2331
101.710
1.145
171
88



3
2.8735
14.2374
101.808
1.142
170
88



4
2.8736
14.2382
101.821
1.116
171
88



5
2.8743
14.2383
101.875
1.099
171
88



6
2.8741
14.2393
101.861
1.096
171
89



7
2.8733
14.2326
101.761
1.085
173
88



8
2.8739
14.2412
101.865
1.089
171
88



9
2.8733
14.2350
101.774
1.087
172
88



10
2.8741
14.2390
101.862
1.095
172
89



11
2.8739
14.2383
101.843
1.095
174
89



12
2.8733
14.2361
101.781
1.086
172
89



13
2.8742
14.2371
101.854
1.076
172
89



14
2.8735
14.2352
101.793
1.078
173
88



15
2.8731
14.2335
101.751
1.105
176
89



16
2.8755
14.2431
101.991
1.059
173
88



17
2.8741
14.2408
101.875
1.088
171
88



18
2.8734
14.2277
101.734
1.115
180
88



19
2.8730
14.2257
101.690
1.085
172
88



20
2.8727
14.2224
101.644
1.087
171
88



21
2.8734
14.2313
101.761
1.079
179
88



22
2.8730
14.2293
101.711
1.089
175
88



23
2.8742
14.2280
101.787
1.067
180
88



24
2.8717
14.2383
101.889
1.110
170
88



25
2.8761
14.2480
102.072
1.025
171
88



26
2.8755
14.2463
102.014
1.056
171
88



27
2.8758
14.2462
102.032
1.036
170
88



28
2.8749
14.2460
101.970
1.045
171
88



29
2.8749
14.2436
101.950
1.08
170
88



30
2.8728
14.2304
101.710
1.067
165
86



31
2.8755
14.2314
101.909
1.081
162
85



32
2.8736
14.2354
101.782
1.09
178
90


Compar-
1
2.8762
14.2480
102.072
1.064
173
87


ative
2
2.8724
14.2318
101.690
1.156
166
89


Example
3
2.8714
14.2205
101.540
1.079
175
87



4
2.8724
14.2318
101.690
1.156
166
89



5
2.8735
14.2408
101.833
1.069
167
86



6
2.8741
14.2373
101.852
1.127
167
85



7
2.8732
14.2386
101.792
1.163
163
82



8
2.8762
14.2526
102.096
1.000
160
83



9
2.8752
14.2562
102.131
1.022
163
85



10
2.8761
14.2441
102.039
1.016
170
87



11
2.8772
14.2500
102.161
1.008
167
87



12
2.8721
14.2326
101.677
1.086
172
88



13
2.8711
14.2216
101.527
1.108
171
86



14
2.8715
14.2259
101.617
1.122
169
87



15
2.8748
14.2402
101.908
1.105
173
87



16
2.8756
14.2362
101.875
1.068
171
86



17
2.8745
14.2326
101.771
1.040
171
86



18
2.8772
14.2500
102.161
1.028
167
87



19
2.8755
14.2402
101.970
1.094
171
87



20
2.8728
14.2304
101.710
1.067
165
83



21
2.8734
14.1915
101.598
1.056
161
83



22
2.8754
14.2521
101.995
1.061
163
82









When the resultant data of Table 2 is plotted on a graph of FIG. 1 and linear lines are drawn so as to enclose the plotted points at which good capacity and rate characteristics of the battery are exhibited, it is found that these points are included within the region enclosed by three lines: (1) y=−20.186x+59.079, (2) y=35x−99.393, and (3) y=−32.946x+95.78 in FIG. 1.
Generally, considerable time is required to evaluate battery characteristics when a positive electrode active material is used for a battery. However, according to the present invention, the characteristics of a battery provided with a positive electrode active material having a predetermined lattice constant c can be evaluated only by writing the above three lines on a graph in which the x-axis represents the lattice constant a and the y-axis represents the compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M to determine whether or not the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by the three lines. Therefore, the time required for the evaluation of a battery can be shortened, which improves the efficiency of battery production and reduces production cost.
Moreover, it is found that if lines are drawn so as to enclose those having more excellent battery capacity and rate characteristics, they are included within the region enclosed by three lines: (1) y=−15x+44.18, (2) y=33.33x−94.665, and (3) y=−200x+575.92 in FIG. 1.
Also, Examples 1 to 29 and 32 each use a nitrate as the metal salt to be poured and therefore, positive electrode active materials containing oxygen exceeding that in the compositional formula is finally produced. When comparing Examples 30 and 31 using a chloride and sulfate as the metal salt with those having the same condition other than the metal salt, the battery characteristics are more improved (for example, comparison of Example 3 with Examples 30 and 31).
Moreover, in Example 32 in which the positive electrode material precursor was calcined not under atmospheric pressure but under a predetermined pressure, a positive electrode active material containing oxygen exceeding that in the compositional formula is finally produced. Therefore, when comparing Example 32 with those having the same condition other than the pressure, Example 32 was more improved in battery characteristics (for example, comparison of Example 3 with Example 32).
Comparative Examples 1 to 20 are excluded from the region enclosed by three lines: (1) y=−20.186x+59.079, (2) y=35x−99.393, and (3) y=−32.946x+95.78 in FIG. 1 and had inferior battery characteristics. Also, Comparative Examples 21 and 22 had inferior battery characteristics because they had a lattice constant c out of the defined range from 14.2 to 14.25, though they were included within the region enclosed by three lines: (1) y=−20.186x+59.079, (2) y=35x−99.393, and (3) y=−32.946x+95.78 in FIG. 1.

## Claims

1. A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery which has a layer structure represented by the compositional formula:


Liα(NiβMe1-β)Oγ,

wherein Me represents at least one type selected from the group consisting of Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Cr, Ti, Fe, Nb, Cu and Zr,
α denotes a number from 0.9 to 1.2,
β denotes a number from 0.5 to 0.65, and
γ denotes a number of 1.9 or more,
wherein the measured coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M), wherein M is the sum of all metals excluding Li in the above compositional formula, are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−20.186x +59.079, y=35x −99.393, and y=−32.946x +95.78 on a graph in which the x-axis represents a lattice constant a and the y-axis represents a compositional ratio (Li/M) of Li to M, and the lattice constant c is 14.2 to 14.25.

2. The positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein the coordinates of the lattice constant a and compositional ratio (Li/M) are within the region enclosed by three lines given by the equations: y=−15x+44.18, y=33.33x−94.665, and y=−200x+575.92.

3. The positive electrode active material for a lithium ion battery according to claim 1, wherein Me represents one metal selected from the group consisting of Mn and Co.

4. A positive electrode for lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode active material of claim 1.

5. A lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode for lithium ion battery of claim 4.

6. A positive electrode for lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode active material of claim 2.

7. A positive electrode for lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode active material of claim 3.

8. A lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode for lithium ion battery of claim 6.

9. A lithium ion battery comprising the positive electrode for lithium ion battery of claim 7.