PROCESS FOR MAKING A CATHODE, AND INTERMEDIATES SUITABLE THEREFOR

Process for making a cathode comprising the following steps(a) Providing a cathode active material selected from layered lithium transition metal oxides, lithiated spinels, lithium transition metal phosphate with olivine structure, and lithium nickel-cobalt aluminum oxides,(b) treating said cathode active material with an oligomer bearing units according to general formula (I a),whereinR1 are the same or different and selected from hydrogen and C1-C4-alkyl, aryl, and C4-C7-cycloalkyl,R2 and R3 are selected independently at each occurrence from phenyl and C1-C8-alkyl, C4-C7-cycloalkyl, C1-C8-haloalkyl, OPR1(O)-*, and -(CR92)p-Si(R2)2-* wherein one or more non-vicinal CR92-groups may be replaced by oxygen, R9 is selected independently at each occurrence from H and C1-C4-alkyl, and p is a variable from zero to 6,and wherein the overall majority of R2 and R3 is selected from C1-C8-alkyl,and, optionally, at least one of carbon in electrically conductive form and, optionally, a binder,(c) applying a slurry of said treated cathode active material to a current collector, and(d) at least partially removing solvent used in step (c).