Nano-sized structured layered positive electrode materials to enable high energy density and high rate capability lithium batteries

Nano-sized structured dense and spherical layered positive active materials provide high energy density and high rate capability electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. Such materials are spherical second particles made from agglomerated primary particles that are Li 1+α (Ni x Co y Mn z ) 1−t M t O 2−d R d , where M is selected from can be Al, Mg, Fe, Cu, Zn, Cr, Ag, Ca, Na, K, In, Ga, Ge, V, Mo, Nb, Si, Ti, Zr, or a mixture of any two or more thereof, R is selected from F, Cl, Br, I, H, S, N, or a mixture of any two or more thereof, and 0≦α≦0.50; 0<x≦1; 0≦y≦1; 0<z≦1; 0≦t≦1; and 0≦d≦0.5. Methods of preparing such materials and their use in electrochemical devices are also described.