Method for manufacturing electrode active material

A method for manufacturing a particulate electrode active material having a surface covered with a conductive carbon coating film, the method comprising:

• preparing a carbon source supply material prepared by dissolving a water-soluble organic compound as a carbon source for forming the carbon coating film in water as a first solvent in which the particulate electrode active material, which is the object of coating, can be dispersed, wherein the water-soluble organic compound is selected from the group consisting of polyvinyl alcohol, polyacrylic acid, polyacrylamide, polyethylene oxide, and polyethylene glycol;
• preparing an electrode active material supply material prepared by dispersing the particulate electrode active material, which is the object of coating, in a non-aqueous solvent as a second solvent that is compatible with water, that allows the particulate electrode active material to be dispersed therein, and that is a poor solvent with respect to the carbon source;
• preparing a mixed material in which the prepared carbon source supply material and electrode active material supply material are mixed;
• adding all of the mixed material to a third solvent consisting of an aprotic polar solvent that is a solvent different from the second solvent, that allows the particulate electrode active material to be dispersed therein, and that is a poor solvent with respect to the carbon source;
• and
• forming a conductive carbon coating film derived from the carbon source on a surface of the electrode active material by calcining a mixture of the electrode active material and the carbon source after the addition to the third solvent.