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Abstract

The present invention is a positive electrode active material that can be used in secondary lithium and lithium-ion batteries to provide the power capability, i.e., the ability to deliver or retake energy in short periods of time, desired for large power applications such as power tools, electric bikes and hybrid electric vehicles. The positive electrode active material of the invention includes at least one electron conducting compound of the formula LiM.sup.1.sub.x-y {A}.sub.y O.sub.z and at least one electron insulating and lithium ion conducting lithium metal oxide, wherein M.sup.1 is a transition metal, {A} is represented by the formula .SIGMA.w.sub.i B.sub.i wherein B.sub.i is an element other than M.sup.1 used to replace the transition metal M.sup.1 and w.sub.i is the fractional amount of element B.sub.i in the total dopant combination such that .SIGMA.w.sub.i =1; B.sub.i is a cation in LiM.sup.1.sub.x-y {A}.sub.y O.sub.z ; 0.95.ltoreq.x.ltoreq.2.10; 0.ltoreq.y.ltoreq.x/2; and 1.90.ltoreq.z.ltoreq.4.20. Preferably, the lithium metal oxide is LiAlO.sub.2 or Li.sub.2 M.sup.2 O.sub.3 wherein M.sup.2 is at least one tetravalent metal selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Sn, Mn, Mo, Si, Ge, Hf, Ru and Te. The present invention also includes methods of making this positive electrode active material.

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First Claim