Drying procedure in manufacturing process for cathode material

A method of manufacturing a cathode material for a lithium ion cell, the method comprising:

• generating a lithium nickel composite oxide material in a manufacturing process, wherein the manufacturing process results in residual lithium being present in the lithium nickel composite oxide material, including:
• mixing a precursor and a lithium salt in a mixing stage to produce a mixture;
• baking the mixture;
• and
• grinding the baked mixture to produce the lithium nickel composite oxide material;
• washing the lithium nickel composite oxide material to remove at least part of the residual lithium, wherein the washing provides the lithium nickel composite oxide material with a moisture content;
• and
• drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material in a continuous process to remove at least part of the moisture content, the drying performed in a single chamber including a first dryer zone, a second dryer zone, and a third dryer zone, the single chamber having an environment of substantially only an inert gas or air essentially free of carbon dioxide,
• wherein drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material comprises:
• a first drying stage that includes drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material in the first drying zone at a first temperature;
• a second drying stage that includes drying the lithium nickel composite oxide material in the second drying zone at a second temperature, wherein the second temperature is higher than the first temperature and the lithium nickel composite oxide material passed directly from the first drying zone to the second drying zone;
• and
• a cooling stage that includes cooling the lithium nickel composite oxide material in the third drying zone, wherein a separate stream of inert gas or air essentially free of carbon dioxide is introduced into each of the first dryer zone, the second dryer zone, and the third dryer zone.