Method for making lithiated manganese oxide

The invention is a process which provides a high purity lithiated manganese oxide (Li1+xMn2-yO4) from chemically made MnO2. The lithiated manganese oxide has an especially effective utility for use as a cathodic material in rechargeable batteries. The process of the invention includes blending a lithium compound with a chemically made manganese dioxide to form a manganese dioxide/lithium compound blend. The lithium compound in the blend is at least about one mole of lithium for every mole of manganese dioxide. The manganese dioxide and lithium compound in the blend undergo an ion exchange reaction to provide an ion replaced product where lithium ions have replaced sodium and potassium ions in the MnO2 to form an ion replaced product. Thereafter, the ion replaced product is heated or calcined to provide the lithiated manganese oxide.