Cathode material for lithium battery and method of production thereof

A method of forming cathode materials for lithium ion and lithium metal batteries, comprising the steps of:

• providing reagents including at least one elemental chalcogen or chalcogenic oxide and a transitional metal oxide;
• heating said reagents, wherein a cathode composition is formed having a chalcogenic complex adsorbed to a bulk material, said bulk material being a modification of said transitional metal oxide.

An electrochemical cell, comprising:

• an anode comprising lithium ions or lithium metal;
• a cathode, said cathode including a transitional metal oxide layer and an adsorbate layer disposed on a surface of said transitional metal oxide layer, said transitional metal oxide and said adsorbate layer both being electrochemically active, and
• an electrolyte operatively associated with said anode and said cathode.