Patent ID: 8753532

Claim:
A lithium metal oxide powder for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, having a general formula Li a Ni x Co y Mn y′ M′ z O 2±e A f , wherein 0.9<a<1.1, 0.3≦x≦0.9, 0≦y≦0.4, 0≦y′≦0.4, 0<z≦0.35, e<0.02, 0≦f≦0.05 and 0.9<(x+y+y′+z+f)<1.1; wherein M′ comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of Al, Mg, Ti, Cr, V, Fe and Ga; A comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of F, C, Cl, S, Zr, Ba, Y, Ca, B, Sn, Sb, Na and Zn; and the powder has a particle size distribution defining a D10 and a D90; wherein either: x1 −x 2≧0.005; or z 2 −z 1≧0.005; or both x1−x2≧0.005 and z2−z1≧0.005; x1 and z1 being molar contents of Ni and M′, respectively, of particles having a particle size D90; and x2 and z2 being molar contents of Ni and M′, respectively, of particles having a particle size D10, and wherein the molar contents of Co and Mn are not correlated to particle size.