Patent ID: 8852807

Claim:
A composition comprising a compound selected from the group consisting of (Li 1−a M″ a ) x M′(PO 4 ) and (Li b−a M″ a ) x M′(PO 4 ), wherein M′ is a first-row transition metal, M″ is one or more dopants selected from a Group IIA, IIIA, IVA, VA, VIA, VIIA, VIIIA, IB, IIB, IIIB, IVB, VB, and VIB metal, 0.0001<a≦0.1, a≦b≦1, and x is greater than zero, wherein (i) the composition has a specific surface area of at least 15 m 2 /g; (ii) the composition crystallizes in an ordered or partially disordered structure of the olivine Li x M(PO 4 ) structure type; and (iii) M″ is an ion selected to be supervalent to the lowest valence state of M′ in the compound; and additionally having a molar concentration of the metals (M′+M″) relative to the concentration of P that exceeds the ideal stoichiometric ratio of 1:1 in the olivine structure type compound by at least 0.0001.