A lithium metal oxide powder for a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, consisting of a core and a surface layer, the surface layer being delimited by an outer and an inner interface, the inner interface being in contact with the core, the core having a layered crystal structure comprising the elements Li, M and oxygen, wherein M has the formula M=(Ni.sub.z (Ni.sub.1/2 Mn.sub.1/2).sub.y Co.sub.x).sub.1-k A.sub.k, with 0.15≤x≤0.30, 0.20≤z≤0.55, x+y+z=1 and 0<k≤0.1, wherein the Li content is stoichiometrically controlled with a molar ratio 0.95≤Li:M≤1.10; wherein A is at least one dopant and comprises Al; wherein the core has an Al content of 0.3-3 mol % and a F content of less than 0.05 mol %; and wherein the surface layer has an Al content that increases continuously from the Al content of the core at the inner interface to at least 10 mol % at the outer interface, and a F content that increases continuously from less than 0.05 mol % at the inner interface to at least 3 mol % at the outer interface, the Al and F contents in the surface layer being determined by XPS. The surface layer may also have a Mn content that decreases continuously from the Mn content of the core at the inner interface, to less than 50% of the Mn content of the core at the outer interface.

The invention relates to O3/P2 mixed-phase sodium-containing doped layered oxide materials which comprise a mixture of a first phase with an O3-type structure and a second phase with a P2-type structure; wherein the O3:P2 mixed-phase sodium-containing doped layered oxide material has the general formula: Na.sub.aA.sub.bM.sup.1.sub.c M.sup.2 M.sup.3.sub.eM.sup.4.sub.f M.sup.5 O.sub.2±δ. The invention also provides a process for making such O3/P2 mixed-phase sodium-containing doped layered oxide materials, and use applications therefor.

The invention is directed towards an electrochemically active cathode material for a battery. The electrochemically active cathode material includes a non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide. The non-stoichiometric beta-delithiated layered nickel oxide has a chemical formula. The chemical formula is L.sub.ixA.sub.yNi.sub.1+a−zM.sub.zO.sub.2.nH.sub.2O where x is from about 0.02 to about 0.20; y is from about 0.03 to about 0.20; a is from about 0.02 to about 0.2; z is from about 0 to about 0.2; and n is from about 0 to about 1. Within the chemical formula, A is an alkali metal. The alkali metal includes potassium, rubidium, cesium, and any combination thereof. Within the chemical formula, M comprises an alkaline earth metal, a transition metal, a non-transition metal, and any combination thereof.

A positive electrode active material comprises a Li-transition metal-layered oxide represented by the formula: Li.sub.a(Ni.sub.bCo.sub.cAl.sub.dMe.sub.e)O.sub.2 (in which Me=Mn, Mg, Ti, Ru, Zr, Nb, Mo, W; 1.00≤a≤1.15; 0.25<b<1; 0<c≤0.30; 0≤d≤0.05; 0≤e≤0.40), and is constituted of secondary particles formed by aggregation of primary particles. As to a compositional ratio of Li which is derived from unreacted substances or decomposed products in the secondary particles, a variation coefficient (Standard deviation value/Average value) of a Li-compositional ratio: Li/M (M=Ni+Co+Al+Me) is 30% or less. The positive electrode active material hardly deteriorates even if repeatedly charged/discharged, and enables stable charge/discharge, and then a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is enabled to have an excellent output property and a long lifetime.

The invention relates to doped nickelate-containing compounds comprising A.sub.aM.sup.1.sub.VM.sup.2.sub.WM.sup.3.sub.XM.sup.4.sub.yM.sup.5.sub.ZO.sub.2-c wherein A comprises either sodium or a mixed alkali metal in which sodium is the major constituent; M.sup.1 is nickel in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M.sup.2 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, M.sup.3 comprises a metal in oxidation state 2+, M.sup.4 comprises a metal in oxidation state greater than 0 to less than or equal to 4+, and M.sup.5 comprises a metal in oxidation state 3+ wherein 0≤a<1, v>0, at least one of w and y is >0 x≥0, z≥0 wherein c is determined by a range selected from 0<c≤0.1 and wherein (a, v, w, x, y, z and c) are chosen to maintain electroneutrality.

Disclosed is a lithium complex oxide and method of manufacturing the same, more particularly, a lithium complex oxide effective in improving the characteristics of capacity, resistance, and lifetime with reduced residual lithium and with different interplanar distances of crystalline structure between a primary particle locating in an internal part of secondary particle and a primary particle locating on the surface part of the secondary particle, and a method of preparing the same.

Provided is a 5 V class spinel type lithium nickel manganese-containing composite oxide having an operating potential of 4.5 V or more with respect to a metal Li reference potential, wherein the composite oxide is able to improve cycle characteristics while suppressing the amount of gas generated under high temperature environments and, moreover, to improve output characteristics while suppressing a shoulder on discharge at around 4.1 V in a charge and discharge curve. The spinel type lithium nickel manganese-containing composite oxide is represented by a general formula [Li(Li.sub.aNi.sub.yMn.sub.xTi.sub.bMg.sub.zM.sub.α)O.sub.4-δ] (where 0<a, 0<b, 0.30≤y<0.60, 0<z, 0≤α, x=2−a−b−y−z−α<1.7, 3≤b/a≤8, 0.11<b+z+α, 0<z/b<1, 0≤δ≤0.2, and M represents one or two or more elements selected from the group consisting of Fe, Co, Ba, Cr, W, Mo, Y, Zr, Nb, P, and Ce).

A positive electrode active material includes secondary particles. The secondary particles include a plurality of primary particles. The primary particles include a lithium-containing composite metal oxide. Inside the secondary particles, an electron conducting oxide is disposed at at least a part of a grain boundary between the primary particles. The electron conducting oxide has a perovskite structure.

A supported catalyst for decomposing an organic substance that includes a support and a catalyst particle supported on the support. The catalyst particle contains a perovskite-type composite oxide represented by A.sub.xB.sub.yM.sub.zO.sub.w, where the A contains at least one selected from Ba and Sr, the B contains Zr, the M is at least one selected from Mn, Co, Ni and Fe, y+z=1, x0.995, z0.4, and w is a positive value satisfying electrical neutrality. A film thickness of a catalyst-supporting film supported on the support and containing the catalyst particle is 5 m or more, or a supported amount as determined by normalizing a mass of the catalyst particle supported on the support by a volume of the support is 45 g/L or more.

Provided are electrochemical cells that include as a cathode active material within the cathode of the cell secondary particles that provide excellent capacity and improved cycle life. The particles are characterized by grain boundaries between adjacent crystallites of the plurality of crystallites and comprising a second composition having a layered -NaFeO.sub.2-type structure, a cubic structure, a spinel structure, or a combination thereof, wherein the electrochemically active cathode active material has an initial discharge capacity of 180 mAh/g or greater; and wherein the electrochemical cell has an impedance growth at 4.2V less than 50% for greater than 100 cycles at 45 C.