Abstract: A method of doping elements (particularly those that do not have stable divalent oxidation states) into lithium rich metal oxides useful in lithium ion batteries is comprised of the following steps. A dopant metal is dissolved in a liquid, which includes being present as a colloid, to form a solution. The solution is added to a particulate lithium rich metal oxide precursor while agitating said precursor to form a mixture. The solution is added in an amount that is at most that amount which would make the mixture a paste. The liquid is removed to form a doped lithium rich metal oxide precursor. A source of lithium is added. The doped lithium rich metal oxide precursor is heated to form the lithium rich metal oxide.

Abstract: Porous composites of acicular mullite and tialite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of an oxide of titanium. In some variations of the process, the oxide of titanium is present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the oxide of titanium is applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of acicular mullite and tialite alone. Some of the tialite is believed to form at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between acicular mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of the titanium oxide(s) during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.

Abstract: Porous composites of acicular mullite and tialite are formed by firing an acicular mullite body in the presence of an oxide of titanium. In some variations of the process, the oxide of titanium is present when the acicular mullite body is formed. In other variations, the oxide of titanium is applied to a previously-formed acicular mullite body. Surprisingly, the composites have coefficients of linear thermal expansion that are intermediate to those of acicular mullite and tialite alone. Some of the tialite is believed to form at grain boundaries and/or points of intersection between acicular mullite needles, rather than merely coating the needles. The presence of the titanium oxide(s) during acicular mullite formation does not significantly affect the ability to produce a highly porous network of mullite needles.