Patent ID: 7829223

Claim:
A process for preparing lithium metal oxide of the empirical formula: LiM x K y Co z O 2 Wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of nickel, manganese, chromium, vanadium and aluminum, wherein K is an element selected from the group consisting of nickel, vanadium, manganese, aluminum and chromium and is other than M, wherein x is 0 to 1 y is 0 to 0.8 and z is >0 to 1, and z+x+y=0.9 to 1.1 consisting of the steps of: a) mixing the desired stoichiometric amount of cobalt oxide or hydroxide, lithium hydroxide monohydrate and the oxides or hydroxides of a element selected from the group consisting of nickel, manganese, vanadium, aluminum, chromium or a mixture thereof, in the presence of water and low CO 2 atmosphere, b) heating the mixture of part a) with stirring to about 100 to 250° C. to drive off water; and then c) heating the material from part b) to about 700 to 950° C. for about 2 to 6 hours.