Efficient Dispersion of Droplets by Rotary Spray and Its Application in Preparation of Battery-Grade LiOH·H2O Particles

Abstract

This study investigated the efficient dispersion of microdroplets through the rotary-spray technique and its application in the preparation of battery-grade LiOH·H₂O particles. Owing to the generation of small microdroplets with the aid of rotary spray and N₂ flow shear, uniform microdroplets with 50–100 μm in size were successfully produced, enabling precise control over the final particle size. Battery-grade LiOH·H₂O particles were directly prepared from solution without the traditional filtration, drying, and crushing, and the particles were uniformly sized with a diameter of 3–8 μm. An evaporation model incorporating mass and heat transfer was also developed to predict droplet behaviors under various conditions. The rotary-spray technique was further validated by preparing Li₂CO₃ microparticles and TiO₂ nanoparticles, and the results confirmed its versatility and controllability in particle preparation. Pilot-scale equipment with a particle productivity of 1 kt/a was manufactured and verified to have consistent performance with the laboratory-scale equipment, showcasing its potential industrial applications.