A positive-electrode active material precursor for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that includes a nickel-cobalt-manganese carbonate composite represented by general formula Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zM.sub.tCO.sub.3 (where x+y+z+t=1, 0.05x0.3, 0.1y0.4, 0.55z0.8, 0t0.1, and M denotes at least one additional element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W) and a hydrogen-containing functional group, wherein H/Me representing the ratio of the amount of hydrogen to the amount of metal components Me included in the positive-electrode active material precursor is greater than or equal to 1.60.

A method for manufacturing a slurry for a positive electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using an aqueous solvent containing an alkali metal complex oxide, includes: while causing a raw material slurry containing a solid content and the solvent as slurry raw materials for a positive electrode of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery to flow along a path, performing a neutralization treatment on an alkali component in the raw material slurry by inorganic carbon supplied to the raw material slurry flowing along the path.

A method for manufacturing a slurry for a positive electrode of a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using an aqueous solvent containing an alkali metal complex oxide, includes: while causing a raw material slurry containing a solid content and the solvent as slurry raw materials for a positive electrode of the nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery to flow along a path, performing a neutralization treatment on an alkali component in the raw material slurry by inorganic carbon supplied to the raw material slurry flowing along the path.

Process for precipitating a carbonate or (oxy)hydroxide comprising nickel from an aqueous solution of a nickel salt wherein such process is carried out in a vessel comprising (A) a vessel body, (B) one or more elements that control the hydraulic flow of the slurry formed during the precipitation and that induce a loop-type circulation flow, and (C) a stirrer whose stirrer element is in the vessel but located separately from the element(s) (B).

Process for precipitating a carbonate or (oxy)hydroxide comprising nickel from an aqueous solution of a nickel salt wherein such process is carried out in a vessel comprising (A) a vessel body, (B) one or more elements that control the hydraulic flow of the slurry formed during the precipitation and that induce a loop-type circulation flow, and (C) a stirrer whose stirrer element is in the vessel but located separately from the element(s) (B).

A carbonate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, M comprising 20 to 90 mol % Ni, 10 to 70 mol % Mn and 10 to 40 mol % Co, the precursor further comprising a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4<Na/S<2. Thes lithium metal (M)-oxide powder has a particle size distribution with 10 mD5020 m, a specific surface with 0.9BET5, the BET being expressed in g/cm.sup.2, the powder further comprises a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sum (2*Na.sub.wt)+S.sub.wt of the sodium (Na.sub.wt) and sulfur (S.sub.wt) content expressed in wt % is more than 0.4 wt % and less than 1.6 wt %, and wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4<Na/S<2.

A carbonate precursor compound for manufacturing a lithium metal (M)-oxide powder usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium-ion batteries, M comprising 20 to 90 mol % Ni, 10 to 70 mol % Mn and 10 to 40 mol % Co, the precursor further comprising a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4<Na/S<2. Thes lithium metal (M)-oxide powder has a particle size distribution with 10 mD5020 m, a specific surface with 0.9BET5, the BET being expressed in g/cm.sup.2, the powder further comprises a sodium and sulfur impurity, wherein the sum (2*Na.sub.wt)+S.sub.wt of the sodium (Na.sub.wt) and sulfur (S.sub.wt) content expressed in wt % is more than 0.4 wt % and less than 1.6 wt %, and wherein the sodium to sulfur molar ratio (Na/S) is 0.4<Na/S<2.

A positive electrode active material precursor for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that includes a nickel-cobalt-manganese carbonate composite represented by general formula Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zM.sub.tCO.sub.3 (where x+y+z+t=1, 0.05?x?0.3, 0.1?y?0.4, 0.55?z?0.8, 0?t?0.1, and M denotes at least one additional element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W) and a hydrogen-containing functional group. The ratio H/Me of the amount of hydrogen H to the amount of metal components Me included in the positive electrode active material precursor is less than 1.60. The positive electrode active material further includes a secondary particle formed by a plurality of primary particles that have been aggregated.

A positive electrode active material precursor for a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery is provided that includes a nickel-cobalt-manganese carbonate composite represented by general formula Ni.sub.xCo.sub.yMn.sub.zM.sub.tCO.sub.3 (where x+y+z+t=1, 0.05?x?0.3, 0.1?y?0.4, 0.55?z?0.8, 0?t?0.1, and M denotes at least one additional element selected from a group consisting of Mg, Ca, Al, Ti, V, Cr, Zr, Nb, Mo, and W) and a hydrogen-containing functional group. The ratio H/Me of the amount of hydrogen H to the amount of metal components Me included in the positive electrode active material precursor is less than 1.60. The positive electrode active material further includes a secondary particle formed by a plurality of primary particles that have been aggregated.

Disclosed herein is a process for removing water from a particulate material selected from (oxy)hydroxides and carbonates containing at least one of nickel cobalt, and at least one metal other than nickel. The process includes the step of introducing at least one particulate material with a water content in the range of from 1 to 30% by weight, referring to said particulate material, into a rotary kiln with external heating elements and moving it through the rotary kiln together with a flow of a gas. The residual moisture of the resultant product is in the range of from 50 ppm to 1.5% by weight.