Abstract: A method of producing a particulate lithium mixed metal oxide cathode material comprising the steps of providing an organic compound, having a melting point above 50° C., providing a lithium compound, providing two or more metal compounds, mixing the organic compound, the lithium compound, and the two or more metal compounds to form a mixture, calcining the mixture at a calcining temperature, in an atmosphere containing oxygen to combust the organic compound and to form a lithium mixed metal oxide, cooling the lithium mixed metal oxide to below 60° C., and sizing the cooled lithium mixed metal oxide to produce particulate lithium mixed metal oxide having a predetermined average particle size.

Abstract: A method of producing a particulate lithium metal oxide or lithium metal phosphate material comprising the steps of providing one or more metal compounds, adding sufficient water to dissolve the one or more metal compounds to form a metal compound solution, adding a first basic solution, a second basic solution and the metal compound solution at predetermined rates to a reaction vessel containing water to form a reaction mixture, heating the reaction mixture while maintaining a pH of the reaction mixture in a predetermined pH range, adding a lithium compound, adding a fatty acid, filtering a precipitate, washing and preferably drying the precipitate, calcining the dried precipitate in an atmosphere containing oxygen to form a calcined lithium metal oxide or lithium metal phosphate, cooling and sizing the calcined lithium metal oxide or lithium metal phosphate to produce a particulate lithium metal oxide or lithium metal phosphate material having a predetermined average particle size.

Abstract: A method of producing a particulate lithium metal oxide cathode material comprising the steps of providing an organic acid, providing a lithium compound, and providing a metal compound. The organic acid, the lithium compound, and the metal compound are mixed to form a mixture. The organic acid is melted to form a liquid organic acid, if the organic acid is provided as a solid. The mixture, including the liquid organic acid, is cCalcined in an atmosphere containing oxygen to form a lithium metal oxide. The lithium metal oxide is cooled and sized to produce the particulate lithium metal oxide having a predetermined average particle size.

Abstract: A process for solution-based formation of a nanostructured, carbon-coated, inorganic composite includes selecting a supply of inorganic material in a solution, selecting a supply of a carbon-containing solution, and synthesizing the composite by causing the inorganic material to react in the carbon-containing solution. The synthesized composite may be conductive-carbon-coated, and may be for electrochemical applications such as battery cathodes and anodes. The selecting step may involve varying relative amounts of polar fluid, microblender and water components to synthesize a crystalline inorganic composite. There may be a step of retaining and reusing the supply of carbon-containing solution that remains after the synthesizing, and testing the supply of carbon-containing solution that remains to determine whether it can be used again.