Electrode materials

1. A process of forming a positive active material or a negative active material, the process comprising:

heating an electroactive material under an inert atmosphere; and

exposing the electroactive material to H 2 ;

wherein:

the exposing is conducted at a temperature of 200° C. to 400° C.;

the electroactive material is the positive active material or the negative active material;

the positive active material comprises a spinel, LiNi 1-x Co y Met z O 2 , LiMet 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , LiMet 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , Li 1+x′ Ni α Mn β Co γ Met′ δ O 2-z′ F z′ , or A n′ B 2 (XO 4 ) 3 ;

the negative active material comprises Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , TiO 2 , LiMO x , nitrides, phosphides, intermetallic compounds, or a metal oxide;

M and M′ are metals;

Met is Al, Mg, Ti, B, Ga, Si, Mn, or Co;

Met′ is Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, or Ti;

A is Li, Ag, Cu, Na, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn;

B is Ti, V, Cr, Fe, or Zr;

X is S, Si, W, or Mo;

a+b>0; and

0≦a≦2, 0≦b≦2, 0≦x≦0.3, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5; 0≦x′≦0.4, 0≦α≦1, 0≦β≦1, 0≦γ≦1, 0≦δ≦0.4, and 0≦z′≦0.4; and 0≦n′≦3.

2. The process of claim 1 , further comprising introducing an inert gas with the H 2 .

3. The process of claim 2 , wherein the inert gas comprises He, N 2 , or Ar.

4. The process of claim 2 , wherein the H 2 is present from 1 vol % to 10 vol %, or from 2 vol % to 5 vol %.

5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the exposing is conducted for a period of time from 1 minute to 5 hours.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises the positive active material comprising a spinel, LiNi 1-x Co y Met z O 2 , LiMet 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , LiMet 0.5 Mn 1.5 O 4 , Li 1+x′ Ni α Mn β Co γ Met′ δ O 2-z′ F z′ , or A n′ B 2 (XO 4 ) 3 ;

wherein:

M and M′ are metals;

Met is Al, Mg, Ti, B, Ga, Si, Mn, or Co;

Met′ is Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, or Ti;

A is Li, Ag, Cu, Na, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, or Zn;

B is Ti, V, Cr, Fe, or Zr;

X is P, S, Si, W, or Mo; and

a+b>0;

0≦a≦2, 0≦b≦2, 0≦x≦0.3, 0≦y≦0.5, 0≦z≦0.5; 0≦x′≦0.4, 0≦α≦1, 0≦β≦1, 0≦γ≦1, 0≦δ≦0.4, and 0≦z′≦0.4; and 0≦n′≦3.

7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises the positive active material comprising LiCoO 2 , LiNiO 2 , LiMn 0.5 Ni 0.5 O 2 , LiMn 0.3 Co 0.3 Ni 0.3 O 2 , LiMn 2 O 4 , LiFeO 2 , or vanadium oxide.

8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the electroactive material comprises the negative active material comprising Li 4 Ti 5 O 12 , TiO 2 , LiMO x , nitrides, phosphides, intermetallic compounds, or a metal oxide.

9. An electroactive material formed by the process of claim 1 .

10. A rechargeable lithium battery comprising the electroactive material of claim 9 .

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the exposing is conducted during a cooling after the heating of the electroactive material.