Patent ID: 7749482

Claim:
A process for producing a lithium-containing composite oxide represented by: Li p N x M m O z F a wherein N is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Co, Mn and Ni, M is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, alkaline earth metal elements and transition metal elements other than N, 0.9≦p≦1.2, 0.97≦x<1.00, 0<m≦0.03, 1.9≦z≦2.2, x+m=1 and 0≦a≦0.02, which process comprises firing a mixture comprising a lithium source, an N element source, and an M element source, and optionally a fluorine source, in an atmosphere comprising oxygen, wherein said M element source is an aqueous solution of a ketocarboxylate compound having the M element, at least is one carboxyl group, and at least one carbonyl group present within the ketocarboxylate molecule.