Battery with Spinel Cathode

A method of forming a battery comprising:

• forming a coated lithium ion cathode material comprising:
• in one pot;
• reacting lithium carbonate, manganese carbonate and nickel carbonate with oxalic acid, liberating CO2(g) and H2O(l) to forming a precipitate comprising lithium oxalate, manganese oxalate and nickel oxalate to form an oxide precursor;
• adding a coating metal precursor salt to said oxide precursor;
• and
• heating said oxide precursor to form said coated lithium ion cathode material;
• and
• providing an anode and an electrolyte;
• combining said anode and said cathode into a package with said anode and said cathode separated by said electrolyte.

An improved lithium ion battery comprising:

• a cathode comprising particles comprising an oxide defined by the formula:
• LiNiaMnbXcGdO2
• wherein G is an optional dopant;
• X is Co or Al;
• a≥0.5;
• b+c+d≤0.5;
• and d≤0.1;
• and
• each particle of said particles comprises a coating covering a surface of said particle wherein said coating comprises a salt of an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of vanadium, tantalum and niobium;
• and
• an agglomerate comprising said particles wherein said agglomerate comprises interstitial interfaces wherein said interstitial interfaces comprise adjacent coatings on adjacent said particles;
• an anode;
• and
• an electrolyte.