Cathode materials for use in lithium cells and batteries

A crystalline, structurally-integrated, lithium-metal-oxide composite electrode material of empirical formula LiM2(1−w)M3wO2, wherein M2 is a combination of Mn and Ni transition metal ions in a ratio of Mn to Ni ions of about 2:1 to about 1:1;

• M3 is one or more metal cations selected from the group consisting of an Al cation, a Ga cation, a Mg cation, a Ti cation;
• and a Co cation;
• and 0<w≤0.5;
• the crystal structure of the material of empirical formula LiM2(1−w)M3wO2 comprises domains of a disordered lithiated-spinel component, and further comprises domains of a disordered layered component and optionally domains of a disordered rock salt component;
• the oxygen lattice of the components is cubic-close packed;
• and
• wherein greater than 0 and less than 20 percent of lithium ions of the lithiated spinel and layered components are disordered among the octahedral sites normally occupied by the transition metal ions, and a corresponding percentage of the transition metal ions are disordered among the octahedral sites normally occupied by lithium ions, in fully-ordered, lithiated spinel and layered structures.