PRECURSORS OF CATHODE MATERIALS FOR A RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM ION BATTERY

A method for manufacturing a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound having a malachite-rosasite mineral structure, comprising the steps of:providing an first aqueous solution comprising a source of Co,providing a second aqueous solution comprising Na2CO3,mixing both solutions in a precipitation reactor at a temperature above 70° C., thereby precipitating a cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound whilst evacuating from the reactor any CO2 formed by the precipitation reaction, wherein the residence time of the compound in the reactor is between 1 and 4 hours, andrecovering the cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound. The cobalt based hydroxide carbonate compound is used as a precursor of a lithium cobalt based oxide usable as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries.