A sodium-based electrode active material and a secondary battery comprising the same are provided. The electrode active material is represented by the following Chemical Formula 1, and has an orthorhombic crystal system and a space group of Cmcm. [Chemical Formula 1] Na.sub.x[Mn.sub.1-y-zM.sup.1.sub.yM.sup.2.sub.z]O.sub.2-A.sub.. In Chemical Formula 1, x may be 0.5 to 0.8. M.sup.1 and M.sup.2 may be, regardless of each other, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Zr, Nd, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Pb, Ag, Cd, Al, Ga, In, Sn, or Bi. y may be from 0 to 0.25. z may be from 0 to 0.25. A may be N, O, F, or S, and may be 0 to 0.1.

A positive electrode active material includes a lithium composite oxide and a covering material that covers a surface of the lithium composite oxide. The covering material has an electron conductivity of 10.sup.6 S/m or less. The lithium composite oxide is a multiphase mixture including a first phase having a first crystal structure that belongs to a space group Fm-3m and a second phase having a second crystal structure that belongs to a space group other than a space group Fm-3m. The ratio I.sub.(18-20)/I.sub.(43-46) of a first integrated intensity I.sub.(18-20) of a first maximum peak present at a first diffraction angle 2 of 18 or more and 20 or less to a second integrated intensity I.sub.(43-46) of a second maximum peak present at a second diffraction angle 2 of 43 or more and 46 or less in an XRD pattern of the lithium composite oxide satisfies 0.05I.sub.(18-20)/I.sub.(45-46)0.90.

Cathode materials for lithium ion batteries, lithium ion batteries incorporating the cathode materials, and methods of operating the lithium ion batteries are provided. The materials are composed of lithium metal oxides that include two different metals.

A ceramic member includes a matrix phase of a perovskite compound including La, Ca, and Mn, and a heterophase including Mn and O as main components, wherein crystal grains of the perovskite compound have an average grain size of about 2.5 m or more and about 6.4 m or less.

A composition suitable for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate can comprise abrasive particles, a multi-valent metal borate, at least one oxidizer and a solvent. The composition can polish a substrate with a high material removal rate and a very smooth surface finish.

A composition suitable for chemical mechanical polishing a substrate can comprise abrasive particles, a multi-valent metal borate, at least one oxidizer and a solvent. The composition can polish a substrate with a high material removal rate and a very smooth surface finish.

A positive electrode for a rechargeable battery, comprising a lithium metal oxide powder having a layered crystal structure and having the formula Li.sub.xTm.sub.yHm.sub.zO.sub.6, with 3x4.8, 0.60y2.0, 0.60z2.0, and x+y+z=6, wherein Tm is one or more transition metals of the group consisting of Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cr; wherein Hm is one or more metals of the group consisting of Zr, Nb, Mo and W. The lithium metal oxide powder may comprise dopants and have the formula Li.sub.xTm.sub.yHm.sub.zM.sub.mO.sub.6 A, wherein A is either one or more elements of the group consisting of F, S or N; and M is either one or more metal of the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce and Zr, with either >0 or m>0, 0.05, m0.05 and x+y+z+m=6.

There is provided a compound for use as material in cathode of a battery. The compound has i) at least sodium or ii) sodium and lithium as a first ingredient, copper as a second ingredient, at least a first transition metal in a third ingredient (M) selected from a group including manganese, nickel, iron, copper, zinc, chromium, vanadium, titanium, molybdenum and tungsten, niobium; and oxygen as a fourth ingredient; and wherein the compound has a chemical formula of Na.sub.yCu.sub.xM.sub.1-xO.sub.2, or Li.sub.aNa.sub.bCu.sub.xM.sub.1-xO.sub.2.

A process for making a cathode active material for a lithium ion battery is described. The process includes (a) a step of synthesizing a mixed oxide of formula Li.sub.1+xTM.sub.1xO.sub.2 at a temperature ranging from 750 to 1000 C. in an oxidizing atmosphere, where TM is a combination of two or more transition metals of Mn, Co and Ni and, optionally, at least one more metal of Ba, Al, Ti, Zr, W, Fe, Cr, K, Mo, Nb, Mg, Na and V, and x is a number ranging from zero to 0.2, (b) a step of cooling down the material obtained from step (a) to a temperature ranging from 100 to 400 C., (c) a step of adding at least one reactant of BF.sub.3, SO.sub.2 and SO.sub.3 at the temperature of 100 to 400 C., and (d) a step of cooling down to a temperature of 50 C. or below.

Provided is an improved method for forming a coated lithium ion cathode materials specifically for use in a battery. The method comprises forming a first solution comprising a digestible feedstock of a first metal suitable for formation of a cathode oxide precursor and a multi-carboxylic acid. The digestible feedstock is digested to form a first metal salt in solution wherein the first metal salt precipitates as a salt of deprotonated multi-carboxylic acid thereby forming an oxide precursor and a coating metal is added to the oxide precursor. The oxide precursor is heated to form the coated lithium ion cathode material.