Lithium Metal Oxide Particles Coated with a Mixture of the Elements of the Core Material and One or More Metal Oxides

A method for manufacturing a lithium metal oxide powder, the metal M having the formula M=Co1-aM′a, with 0≦a≦0.05, wherein M′ is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga and B, comprising:

• providing a first mixture of a first Co- or Co and M′-comprising and a first Li-comprising precursor powder, the first mixture having a Li to metal molar ratio >1.01,
• sintering the first mixture in an oxygen comprising atmosphere at a temperature T1 of at least 600° C., thereby obtaining a Li-enriched lithium metal oxide compound,
• providing a second Co- or Co and M′-comprising precursor powder, and
• mixing the Li-enriched lithium metal oxide compound and the second Co- or Co and M′-comprising precursor powder, thereby obtaining a second mixture wherein the molar ratio of Li to metal is 1.00±0.01, and
• sintering the second mixture in an oxygen comprising atmosphere at a temperature T2 of at least 600° C.

A method for manufacturing a lithium metal oxide powder comprising a core material and a surface layer, the core material comprising a layered crystal structure comprising the elements Li, a metal M and oxygen, wherein the Li content is stoichiometrically controlled, the metal M has the formula M=Co1-aM′a, with 0≦a≦0.05, and M′ is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Al, Ga and B;

• and the surface layer comprising a mixture of the elements of the core material and inorganic N -based oxides, wherein N is one or more metals selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Fe, Cu, Ca, Ba, Y, Sn, Sb, Na, Zn, Zr and Si, comprising:
• providing a first mixture of a first Co- or Co and M′-comprising and a first Li-comprising precursor powder, the first mixture having a Li to metal molar ratio >1.01,
• sintering the first mixture in an oxygen comprising atmosphere at a temperature T1 of at least 600° C., thereby obtaining a Li-enriched lithium metal oxide compound,
• providing a second Co- or Co and M′-comprising precursor powder, and
• mixing the Li-enriched lithium metal oxide compound and the second Co- or Co and M′ comprising precursor powder, thereby obtaining a second mixture wherein the molar ratio of Li to metal is 1.00±0.01, and
• sintering the second mixture in an oxygen comprising atmosphere at a temperature T2 of at least 600° C.;
• wherein one or more of the first Co- or Co and M′-comprising, the first Li-comprising, and the second Co- or Co and M′-comprising precursor powders further comprises at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Fe, Cu, Ca, Ba, Y, Sn, Sb, Na, Zn, Zr and Si.