Lithium mixed metal oxide cathode compositions and lithium-ion electrochemical cells incorporating same

A lithium-ion electrochemical cell comprising:

• an anode;
• a cathode;
• and
• an electrolyte separating said anode and said cathode,
• wherein the cathode comprises a composition having the formula,
• Li[LixMnaNibCocM1dM2e]O2,
• wherein M1 and M2 are different metals and are not Mn, Ni, or Co, wherein at least one of a, b, and c>0, and
• wherein x+a+b+c+d+e=1;
• −0.5≦x≦0.2;
• 0≦a≦0.80;
• 0≦b≦0.75;
• 0≦c≦0.88;
• 0≦d+e≦0.30;
• and at least one of d and e is >0;
• said composition being in the form of a single phase having a layered O3 crystal structure.

A method of making a cathode composition comprising:

• combining precursors of the composition having the formula,
• Li[LixMnaNibCocM1dM2e]O2;
• and
• heating the precursors to make the composition,
• wherein M1 and M2 are different metals and are not Mn, Ni, or Co, wherein at least one of a, b, and c>0, and
• wherein x+a+b+c+d+e=1;
• −0.5≦x≦0.2;
• 0≦a≦0.80;
• 0≦b≦0.75;
• 0≦c≦0.88;
• 0≦d+e≦0.30;
• and at least one of d and e is >0;
• said composition being in the form of a single phase having a layered O3 crystal structure.