HIGH ENERGY CATHODE MATERIAL

1 . A method for producing an active material for use in a lithium ion battery, comprising:

providing a lithium precursor, a transition metal precursor, and a process control agent;

milling the lithium precursor, the transition metal precursor, and the process control agent to form a milled powder; and

heating the milled powder for a time and temperature to form the active material.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the process control agent comprises a carbon source.

3 . The method of claim 2 wherein the carbon source comprises carbon black.

4 . The method of claim 2 wherein the carbon source comprises graphite.

5 . The method of claim 2 wherein the carbon source comprises an ethylene oxide polymer.

6 . The method of claim 2 wherein the carbon source comprises poly(ethylene oxide).

7 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed for a time less than 12 hours.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed for a time less than 1 hour.

9 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed for a time of about 0.5 hour.

10 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of at least 500 degrees Celsius.

11 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of at least 700 degrees Celsius.

12 . The method of claim 1 wherein the heating is performed at a temperature of at least 900 degrees Celsius.

13 . The method of claim 1 wherein the milled powder contains unreacted process control agent.

14 . The method of claim 13 wherein the heating consumes substantially all of the unreacted process control agent.

15 . The method of claim 1 wherein the transition metal precursor comprises manganese.

16 . The method of claim 1 further comprising an additional transition metal precursor.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein the additional transition metal precursor comprises nickel.

18 . The method of claim 17 wherein the active material comprises LiMn 1.5 Ni 0.5 O 4 .