Transition metal composite hydroxide capable of serving as precursor of positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries

A transition metal composite hydroxide represented by a general formula (1) MxWsAt(OH)2+α (wherein, x+s+t=1, 0<s≤0.05, 0<s+t≤0.15, 0≤α≤0.5, M is at least one transition metal selected from Ni, Co and Mn, and A is at least one additive element selected from B, Al, Sc, Zr, Hf, V, Ta, Cr, and Mo and serving as a precursor of a positive electrode active material for nonaqueous electrolyte secondary batteries, wherein

• the transition metal composite hydroxide is a secondary particle having a spherical shape and composed of aggregation of a plurality of primary particles,
• the secondary particle has an average particle diameter of 3 to 7 μm and an index indicating a scale of particle-size distribution, [(d90−d10)/average-particle-diameter], of not more than 0.55, and
• a coating material containing a metal oxide of tungsten and the additive element or a metal hydroxide of tungsten and the additive element is formed on surfaces of the secondary particles.