MULTI-STEP PROCESS FOR MAKING CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIALS, AND CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIALS

The present invention is related to a process for making an electrode active material wherein said process comprises the following steps: (a) Providing a hydroxide TM(OH)2 or at least one oxide TMO or at least one oxyhydroxide of TM or a combination of at least two of the foregoing wherein TM is one or more metals and contains at least 97 mol-% Ni and, optionally, in total up to 3 mol-% of at least one metal selected from Al, Ti, Zr, V, Co, Zn, Ba, and Mn; (b) mixing said hydroxide TM(OH)2 or oxide TMO or oxyhydroxide of TM or combination with a source of lithium and a source of Mg wherein the molar amount of (Li+Mg) corresponds to 75 to 95 mol-% of TM; (c) treating the mixture obtained from step (b) thermally at a temperature in the range of from 450 to 650° C., thereby obtaining an intermediate; (d) mixing the intermediate from step (c) with a source of Li and with at least one compound of a metal M1 selected from Al, Zr, Co, Mn, Nb, Ta, Mo, and W; (e) treating the mixture obtained from step (d) thermally at a temperature in the range of from 500 to 850° C.