Patent ID: 7670721

Claim:
A process for the manufacture of a lithium insertion electrode comprising the steps of: providing an equimolar aqueous solution of Li 1+ , M n+ and PO 4 3− prepared by dissolving components which are susceptible to coexist as solutes in an aqueous system and which, upon heating at a temperature below 500° C., decompose to form a pure homogeneous Li and M phosphate precursor; evaporating water from the solution, thereby producing a solid mixture; decomposing the solid mixture at a temperature below 500° C. to form a pure homogeneous Li and M phosphate precursor; annealing the precursor at a temperature of less than 600° C. in an inert or reducing atmosphere, thereby forming a LiMPO 4 powder of olivine structure; providing a mixture of the LiMPO 4 powder and a conductive carbon bearing powder; and milling the mixture during a period of time to optimize the reversible capacity of the electrode thereby producing a lithium insertion electrode; wherein M n+ is one or more of Fe 2+ , Fe 3+ , Co 2+ , Ni 2+ and Mn 2+ and M is Fe x Co y Ni z Mn w , with 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, 0≦z≦1, 0≦w≦1, and x+y+z+w=1.