LOW COBALT LAYERED OXIDE MATERIALS FOR LITHIUM ION BATTERY ELECTRODES

Stabilized layered lithium metal oxide cathode materials are described which include excess lithium, Ni, Mn, and at least one other metal ion. The materials comprise a layered LiMO-type material in which M comprises a combination of Ni, Mn, and at least one other metal ion that includes less than about 6 mol % Co; and which has about 1 to 6 percent excess lithium. In one embodiment, the stabilized lithium metal oxide cathode material comprises a composition having the empirical formula xLiMnO.(1−x)LiNiMnCoO, wherein 0