Cathode active materials and process for their manufacture

A process for making a particulate compound according to a general formula (Li1-zM1z)1+x(Ni1-yM2y)1-xO2 with x being in a range of from zero to 0.1, y being in a range of from zero to 0.05, z being in a range of from 0.005 to 0.10, M1 representing Mg or a combination of Mg with at least one of Zn or Ca, and M2 representing Co, Al, Mn, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, or W, said process comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing an Mg-doped oxide or (oxy)hydroxide of Ni or composite (oxy)hydroxide of Ni and at least one of Co, Al, Mn, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ta, Mo, or W;
• (b) converting said oxide or (oxy)hydroxide provided in step (a) with Na2O2 or Na2O or NaOH to (Na1-zM1z)1+x(Ni1-yM2%)1-xO2;
• (c) reacting said (Na1-zM1z)1+x(Ni1-yM2y)1-xO2 with LiNO3 or with a mixture of LiCl and LiNO3 at a temperature in a range of from 250 to 350° C., thereby obtaining a nitrate containing material;
• and
• (d) removing the nitrate and, if applicable, chloride from the nitrate containing material from step (c) with water or C1-C3-alkanol.