Patent ID: 7943111

Claim:
A process for making a lithium transition metal oxide comprising: (a) combining solid Li 2 CO 3 and a solid mixed transition metal precursor to form a mixture; (b) performing a solid state reaction of the mixture in air; and (c) forming the lithium transition metal oxide, the lithium transition metal oxide having a composition of the general formula Li x ((Ni 1-a-b (Ni 1/2 Mn 1/2 ) a Co b ) 1-k A k ) 2-x O 2 , wherein 0.65≦a+b≦0.85, 0.1≦b≦0.4, A is a dopant, 0≦k<0.05, and 0.95≦x≦1.05, wherein the lithium transition metal oxide is substantially free of soluble bases such that less than about 20 ml of 0.1M HCl is necessary to titrate 200 ml of a solution containing substantially all of the soluble bases present in 10 q of said lithium transition metal oxide to a pH less than 5, said solution being prepared by repeated soaking and decanting of said lithium transition metal oxide.