PARTICULATES OF CONDUCTING POLYMER NETWORK-PROTECTED CATHODE ACTIVE MATERIAL PARTICLES FOR LITHIUM BATTERIES

The disclosure provides multi-functional cathode particulates for a lithium battery, wherein at least one of the particulates has a diameter from 100 nm to 50 μm and comprises a conducting polymer network composite comprising one or a plurality of primary particles of a cathode active material that are partially or fully encapsulated by, embedded in, dispersed in, or bonded by an electrically and ionically conducting network of cross-linked polymer chains having a lithium ion conductivity from 10to 5×10S/cm and an electron conductivity from 10to 10S/cm, wherein the primary particles have a diameter or thickness from 0.5 nm to 20 μm. Also provided is a method of producing such cathode particulates.