LMFP Cathode Materials with Improved Electrochemical Performance

A mechanochemical/solid state process for manufacturing LMFP cathode materials, the process comprising:

• a) prior to performing a dry milling step b), drying precursor particles including at least one lithium precursor, at least one manganese (II) precursor, at least one iron (II) precursor and at least one phosphate precursor, optionally a carbonaceous material or precursor thereto and optionally a dopant metal precursor having a fugitive anion, to reduce the water content of the precursors to less than 1% by weight;
• b) after step a), dry milling a mixture of the dried precursor particles in amounts to provide 0.85 to 1.15 moles of lithium per mole of phosphate ions and 0.95 to 1.05 moles of manganese (II), iron (II) and dopant metal combined per mole of phosphate ions;
• and
• c) calcining the resulting milled particle mixture under a non-oxidizing atmosphere to form an olivine LMFP powder.