Mixed metal oxidized hydroxide and method for production

A mixed metal oxidized hydroxide precursor material represented by the chemical formula:

• (1−z)(NiaCobMnc(OH)2(a+b+c).Cob′Mnc′(OOH)b′+c′.Mnc″O2c″).z(NidCoeMnf(OH)2(d+e+f).Coe′Mnf′(OOH)e′+f′.Mnf″O2f″), wherein
• 0<z<0.1;
• A=a, B=b+b′, C=c+c′+c″, A+B+C=1 and 0<A<1, 0<B<1, 0<C<1;
• D=d, E=e+e′, F=f+f′+f″ D+E+F=1 and 0<D<1, 0<E<1, 0<F<1;
• and
• A<D, B>E, C>F.
• the precursor material comprises spherical and non-spherical particles having a surface and an interior, and
• the particles have a gradient structure wherein a molar ratio of Ni, in comparison to Co and Mn, is in the majority at the surface, and a composition with a metal molar ratio that varies from the surface towards the interior of the particles, and
• the surface of the particles has a Ni:Co:Mn ratio of about 8:1:1.