This positive electrode active material for a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery contains a lithium-transition metal composite compound. The lithium-transition metal composite compound is represented by general formula Li.sub.xMn.sub.yNi.sub.zMe.sub.αO.sub.aF.sub.b (in the formula, 1≤x≤1.2, 0.4≤y≤0.8; 0≤z≤0.4, x+y+z=2, 0<α<0.05, 1.8≤a≤2, and 1.8≤a±b≤2.2 are satisfied, and Me represents at least two kinds of elements selected from metal elements other than Li, Mn, and Ni) and Me includes at least one kind of element having an ion radius of 0.6 Å or more.

A material for an electrode, the material for as well as a method of making the material for an electrode comprising or consisting of a compound of formula (1)

M2Ni1−xCoxO4+δ

and/or of formula (2)

La1−yMyNi1−xCoxO4+δ

where M represents Pr and/or Nd, 0.0≤x≤0.2, 0.25≤δ≤0.3 and 0<y≤10 0.5.

A method of forming a metal oxide material having a rod shape or polyhedral nanostructure includes preparing a first reverse micro-emulsion system comprising an aqueous precipitating agent dispersion and a second reverse micro-emulsion system containing an aqueous metal salt dispersion; combining the micro-emulsions together to initiate a reaction; allowing the reaction to continue to form a product mixture comprising a metal oxide gel and aqueous media; separating the metal oxide gel from the aqueous media; collecting the metal oxide gel; and calcining the metal oxide gel to form the metal oxide material. The metal oxide material corresponds to the chemical formula of La.sub.2M.sub.xNi.sub.1-xO.sub.4, Pr.sub.2-yA.sub.yNiO.sub.4, or La.sub.2-zD.sub.zNiO.sub.4, wherein M is copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, or platinum; A is lanthanum or neodymium; D is calcium, barium or strontium; x ranges from 0 to 1; y ranges from 0 to 2; and z ranges from 0 to 0.25.

A thermoelectric material, having a formula Tb.sub.xM1.sub.y-xM2.sub.zO.sub.w where M1 is one of Ca, Mg, Sr, Ba and Ra, M2 is at least one of Co, Fe, Ni, and Mn, x ranges from 0.01 to 5; y is 1, 2, 3, or 5; z is 1, 2, 3, or 4; and w is 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, or 14. The thermoelectric material is chemically stable within 5% for one year and is also non-toxic. The thermoelectric material can also be incorporated into a thermoelectric system which can be used to generate electricity from waste heat sources or to cool an adjacent region.

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.

Provided are a composite cathode active material for a lithium ion battery including a nickel-rich lithium nickel-based compound having a nickel content of 50 to 100 mol % based on a total content of transition metals; and a coating film including a rare earth metal hydroxide and disposed on the surface of the nickel-rich lithium nickel-based compound, a manufacturing method therefor, and a lithium ion battery including a cathode including the composite cathode active material.

A method for the rapid and controlled synthesis of mixed metal oxide nanoparticles using relatively low temperature plasma oxidation of liquid droplets of predetermined mixed metal precursors is disclosed. The resulting nanoparticles reflect the metal precursor stoichiometries and the mixed metal oxide's metastable phase can be controlled. The synthesis of mixed transition metal oxide comprising binary metal oxides, ternary mixed metal oxides, quaternary mixed metal oxides and pentanary mixed metal oxides are demonstrated herein.

A single-crystalline LnBM.sub.2O.sub.5+ or LnBM.sub.2O.sub.5.5+ compound is provided, which includes an ordered oxygen vacancy structure; wherein Ln is a lanthanide, B is an alkali earth metal, M is a transition metal, O is oxygen, and 01. Methods of making and using the compound, and devices and compositions including same are also provided.

Provided are a composite cathode active material for a lithium ion battery including a nickel-rich lithium nickel-based compound having a nickel content of 50 to 100 mol % based on a total content of transition metals; and a coating film including a rare earth metal hydroxide and disposed on the surface of the nickel-rich lithium nickel-based compound, a manufacturing method therefor, and a lithium ion battery including a cathode including the composite cathode active material.

A method of forming a metal oxide material having a rod shape or polyhedral nanostructure includes preparing a first reverse micro-emulsion system comprising an aqueous precipitating agent dispersion and a second reverse micro-emulsion system containing an aqueous metal salt dispersion; combining the micro-emulsions together to initiate a reaction; allowing the reaction to continue to form a product mixture comprising a metal oxide gel and aqueous media; separating the metal oxide gel from the aqueous media; collecting the metal oxide gel; and calcining the metal oxide gel to form the metal oxide material. The metal oxide material corresponds to the chemical formula of La.sub.2M.sub.xNi.sub.1-xO.sub.4, Pr.sub.2-yA.sub.yNiO.sub.4, or La.sub.2-zD.sub.zNiO.sub.4, wherein M is copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, chromium, aluminum, or platinum; A is lanthanum or neodymium; D is calcium, barium or strontium; x ranges from 0 to 1; y ranges from 0 to 2; and z ranges from 0 to 0.25.