Patent ID: 8057769

Claim:
A method for synthesizing a phosphate-based electrode active material represented by the general formula: A a M b (PO 4 ) c Z d , wherein: (a) A is selected from the group consisting of elements from Group I of the Periodic Table, and mixtures thereof, and 0<aâ‰¦9; (b) M includes at least one redox active element, and 1â‰¦bâ‰¦3; (c) 1â‰¦câ‰¦3; (d) Z is selected from the group consisting of a hydroxyl (OH), halogens selected from Group 17 of the Periodic Table, and mixtures thereof, and 0â‰¦dâ‰¦4; and wherein A, M, Z, a, b, c and d are selected so as to achieve electroneutrality of the phosphate-based electrode active material in its nascent or as-synthesized state comprising the step of reacting two or more starting materials collectively containing an alkali metal; a metal which is redox active in the phosphate-based electrode active material and at least one starting material containing a PO 3 3âˆ’ anion and a counter ion selected from the group consisting of fluoride, chloride, bromide, iodide and mixtures thereof, at a temperature and for a time sufficient to form the phosphate-based electrode active material.