Patent ID: 7939202

Claim:
A method for producing a lithium-containing transition metal oxide represented by the general formula: Li[Li x (Ni a M 1−a ) 1−x ]O 2 where M is a metal other than Li and Ni, 0<x, and 0<a, the method comprising: (i) mixing a transition metal compound containing Ni and M in a molar ratio of a:(1−a) with lithium carbonate in a predetermined ratio; (ii) causing the mixture to flow in a rotating cylindrical kiln to reach a predetermined temperature range while repeatedly raising and lowering the temperature thereof; and (iii) thereafter reacting the transition metal compound with the lithium carbonate in the predetermined temperature range, wherein: temperature at one end of the cylindrical kiln is lower than temperature inside the cylindrical kiln, the mixture is introduced from said one end, an inner face of the cylindrical kiln has a spiral groove or rib, and a rotation direction of the cylindrical kiln is switched between a normal direction and a direction opposite thereof multiple times.