Process for producing a lithium-cobalt composite oxide for a positive electrode for a lithium secondary cell

1. A process for producing a lithium-cobalt composite oxide for a positive electrode for a lithium secondary cell,

the lithium-cobalt composite oxide being represented by the formula Li p CO x M y O z F a (wherein M is a transition metal element other than Co, aluminum or an alkaline earth metal element, 0.9≦p≦1.1, 0.980≦x≦1.000, 0≦y≦0.02, 1.9≦z≦2.1, x+y=1 and 0≦a=0.02),

which comprises firing a mixture of a cobalt source, a lithium source, and, if required, the above M element source and a fluorine source, at a temperature of from 800° C. to 1050° C. in an oxygen containing atmosphere,

characterized in that

the cobalt source comprises a first cobalt hydroxide and a cobalt oxyhydroxide, where the first cobalt hydroxide has a specific surface area of from 5 to 50 m 2 /g, a press density of from 1.0 to 2.5 g/cm 3 and a structure having secondary particles formed by agglomeration of primary particles, and

further that the average particle size D50 after the secondary particles are dispersed in pure water is at most ¼ of the original average particle size,

wherein, as measured by means of X-ray diffraction in which CuKα is used as a radiation source,

of the first cobalt hydroxide, the half value width of a diffraction peak on (001) surface at 2θ=19±1° is from 0.18 to 0.35°, and the half value width of a diffraction peak on (101) surface at 2θ=38±1° is from 0.15 to 0.35°, and

of the cobalt oxyhydroxide, the half value width of the diffraction peak on the (220) surface at 2θ=31±1° is at least 0.8°, and the half value width of the diffraction peak on the (311) surface at 2θ=37±1° is at least 0.8°, and the specific surface area is from 10 to 80 m 2 /g.

2. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the cobalt oxyhydroxide comprises secondary particles, which are formed by agglomeration of primary particles and which have a substantially spherical shape with an average particle size of from 7 to 20 μm.

3. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the average particle size D50 of the secondary particles of the first cobalt hydroxide is from 5 to 25 μm.

4. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the average particle size D50 of the primary particles of the first cobalt hydroxide is from 0.1 to 1.2 μm.

5. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the cobalt oxyhydroxide has a specific surface area of at least 2 m 2 /g, and a tap density of from 1.7 to 2.4 g/cm 3 .

6. The process according to claim 2 , wherein the cobalt oxyhydroxide has D10 which is at least 50% of D50, and D90 which is at most 150% of D50.

7. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the lithium-cobalt composite oxide has a press density of from 3.15 to 3.40 g/cm 3 .

8. The process according of claim 1 , wherein M is at least one member selected from the group consisting from Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Mn, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba and Al.

9. The process according to claim 1 , wherein of the lithium-cobalt composite oxide, the half value of width of the diffraction peak on the (110) surface is from 0.07 to 0.14°, the specific surface area is from 0.3 to 0.7 m 2 /g, and the heat generation starting temperature is at least 160° C.

10. The process according to claim 1 , wherein the remaining alkali amount contained in the lithium-cobalt composite oxide is at most 0.03 mass %.

11. A positive electrode for a lithium secondary cell, which contains a lithium-cobalt composite oxide produced by the process as defined in claim 1 .

12. A lithium secondary cell, wherein the positive electrode as defined in claim 11 is used.

13. A process for producing a lithium-cobalt composite oxide for a positive electrode for a lithium secondary cell,

the lithium-cobalt composite oxide being represented by the formula Li p CO x M y O z F a (wherein M is a transition metal element other than Co, aluminum or an alkaline earth metal element, 0.9≦p≦1.1, 0.980≦x≦1.000,0≦y0.02, 1.9≦z≦2.1, x+y=1 and 0.001≦a≦0.02),

which comprises firing a mixture of a cobalt source, a lithium source, and, if required, the above M element source and a fluorine source, at a temperature of from 800° C. to 1050° C. in an oxygen containing atmosphere,

characterized in that

as the above cobalt source, cobalt hydroxide is used which has a specific surface area of from 5 to 50 m 2 /g, a press density of from 1.0 to 2.5 g/cm 3 and a structure having secondary particles formed by agglomeration of primary particles, and

further that the average particle size D50 after the secondary particles are dispersed in pure water, is at most ¼ of the original average particle size.