Disclosed herein is a process for the manufacture of a coated cathode active material including the steps of: (a) providing a particulate electrode active material according to general formula Li.sub.1+xTM.sub.1-xO.sub.2, (b) treating the particulate electrode active material with an aqueous medium that contains a compound of Al or Sb, (c) removing the water from step (b) at least partially, (d) optionally, treating the mixture from step (c) thermally, (e) adding at least one compound selected from compounds of Al or Sb or B, or at least one heteropoly acid or its respective ammonium or lithium salt or salt of Al, Ga, In, or Ba to the solid material obtained from step (d), if applicable, or from (c), respectively, and (f) treating the residue obtained from step (e) thermally.

Disclosed herein is a process for the manufacture of a coated cathode active material including the steps of: (a) providing a particulate electrode active material according to general formula Li.sub.1+xTM.sub.1-xO.sub.2, (b) treating the particulate electrode active material with an aqueous medium that contains a compound of Al or Sb, (c) removing the water from step (b) at least partially, (d) optionally, treating the mixture from step (c) thermally, (e) adding at least one compound selected from compounds of Al or Sb or B, or at least one heteropoly acid or its respective ammonium or lithium salt or salt of Al, Ga, In, or Ba to the solid material obtained from step (d), if applicable, or from (c), respectively, and (f) treating the residue obtained from step (e) thermally.

A method for preparing a cathode active material comprises the steps of: preparing a precursor solution, a chelating agent, and a pH adjuster, introducing the precursor solution, the chelating agent, and the pH adjuster into a reactor to prepare a preliminary cathode active material precursor, and oxidizing the surface of the preliminary cathode active material precursor to prepare a cathode active material precursor.

A method for preparing a cathode active material comprises the steps of: preparing a precursor solution, a chelating agent, and a pH adjuster, introducing the precursor solution, the chelating agent, and the pH adjuster into a reactor to prepare a preliminary cathode active material precursor, and oxidizing the surface of the preliminary cathode active material precursor to prepare a cathode active material precursor.

Disclosed is a method for continuously preparing mixed hydroxide precipitate from a laterite nickel ore by hydrometallurgy. Primary-precipitated mixed hydroxide precipitate particles are used as crystal nuclei, by controlling precipitation process conditions, the quantity of the crystal nuclei, and reaction time of the crystal nuclei, primary mixed hydroxide precipitate crystal nuclei gradually grow, and crystal forms become larger. By controlling the number of cycles, a proportion of returned seed crystals, and a homogenization ratio with precipitants, mixed hydroxide precipitate particles with narrow particle size distribution, dense particles, and better sedimentation effect are obtained, thereby reducing a moisture content of mixed hydroxide precipitate. The preparation method in this disclosure plays a certain guiding role in practical production and has good application prospects.

Disclosed is a method for continuously preparing mixed hydroxide precipitate from a laterite nickel ore by hydrometallurgy. Primary-precipitated mixed hydroxide precipitate particles are used as crystal nuclei, by controlling precipitation process conditions, the quantity of the crystal nuclei, and reaction time of the crystal nuclei, primary mixed hydroxide precipitate crystal nuclei gradually grow, and crystal forms become larger. By controlling the number of cycles, a proportion of returned seed crystals, and a homogenization ratio with precipitants, mixed hydroxide precipitate particles with narrow particle size distribution, dense particles, and better sedimentation effect are obtained, thereby reducing a moisture content of mixed hydroxide precipitate. The preparation method in this disclosure plays a certain guiding role in practical production and has good application prospects.

Disclosed is a method for continuously preparing mixed hydroxide precipitate from a laterite nickel ore by hydrometallurgy. Primary-precipitated mixed hydroxide precipitate particles are used as crystal nuclei, by controlling precipitation process conditions, the quantity of the crystal nuclei, and reaction time of the crystal nuclei, primary mixed hydroxide precipitate crystal nuclei gradually grow, and crystal forms become larger. By controlling the number of cycles, a proportion of returned seed crystals, and a homogenization ratio with precipitants, mixed hydroxide precipitate particles with narrow particle size distribution, dense particles, and better sedimentation effect are obtained, thereby reducing a moisture content of mixed hydroxide precipitate. The preparation method in this disclosure plays a certain guiding role in practical production and has good application prospects.

Disclosed is a method for continuously preparing mixed hydroxide precipitate from a laterite nickel ore by hydrometallurgy. Primary-precipitated mixed hydroxide precipitate particles are used as crystal nuclei, by controlling precipitation process conditions, the quantity of the crystal nuclei, and reaction time of the crystal nuclei, primary mixed hydroxide precipitate crystal nuclei gradually grow, and crystal forms become larger. By controlling the number of cycles, a proportion of returned seed crystals, and a homogenization ratio with precipitants, mixed hydroxide precipitate particles with narrow particle size distribution, dense particles, and better sedimentation effect are obtained, thereby reducing a moisture content of mixed hydroxide precipitate. The preparation method in this disclosure plays a certain guiding role in practical production and has good application prospects.

A positive electrode active material, a positive electrode and a lithium secondary battery containing the same are provided. The positive electrode active material includes a lithium nickel-based composite oxide including nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co) and aluminum (Al), and including a first region, and a second region around (e.g., surrounding) the first region. The second region may be defined as a region having a thickness of about 1 micrometer (m) in a direction from the outermost to the center of the positive electrode active material. The content (e.g., amount) ratio of nickel to aluminum (N.sub.Ni/N.sub.Al) of the second region may be about 5 to about 45.

Example embodiments include positive electrode active materials, manufacturing methods thereof, and rechargeable lithium batteries. The positive electrode active material includes a positive electrode active material having a first particle that has a first surface and a second surface and includes a lithium composite oxide, and a first coating layer on the first surface. A surface area ratio of the first surface to the second surface is in a range of about 3:7 to about 8:2. The first coating layer has a cobalt amount that is greater than a cobalt amount of the first particle. The cobalt amount of the first coating layer is in a range of about 30 at % to about 100 at %.