Patent ID: 6932922

Claim:
A method of preparing a lithium cobalt oxide Li w Co 1−x A x O 2+y having a hexagonal layered crystal structure wherein 0.96≦w≦1.05, 0≦x≦0.05, −0.02≦y≦0.02 and A is one or more dopants, comprising the steps of: heating a lithium source compound, a cobalt source compound, and optionally one or more source compounds containing dopants A in a rotary calciner at a temperature below about 850° C. to produce Li w Co 1−x A x O 2+y ; heating the Li w Co 1−x A x O 2+y compound in a rotary calciner at a temperature from about 900° C. to 1000° C. to refine the hexagonal layered crystal structure; and cooling the Li w Co 1−x A x O 2+y compound to room temperature at a rate from 31.7° C./min to 140° C./min.