TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - ELECTRONICS - Preferred Method: The method (m1) further involves heating the hydroxide composition to form a corresponding crystalline lithium metal oxide composition. The method (m1) further involves the addition of a lithium source in powder form to the metal hydroxide composition to form a mixture and heating the mixture to form a corresponding crystalline lithium metal oxide composition. In the method (m2) the sol gel is formed through the addition of a carboxylic acid to a metal acetate solution.    TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The positive electrode active material is of formula of xLiMO2(1-x)Li2M'O3, Li1+x1Ni alpha ; .Mn beta ; Co gamma ; M1 delta .O2-z-Fz or Li1+x1Ni alpha ; .Mn beta ; Co gamma ; .O2 (preferably Li1.2Ni0.175CO0.10Mn0.525O2). The positive electrode active material for a lithium ion cell comprises a layered lithium metal oxide comprising +4 metal cations, +3 metal cations and +2 metal cations within a crystalline lattice, where the material has a metal/metalloid fluoride coating where the positive electrode material has a first cycle irreversible capacity loss at a discharge rate of C/10 of not greater than 2/3 of the first cycle irreversible capacity loss of the uncoated material, and a discharge capacity at the 20th cycle that is at least 98% of the 5th cycle discharge capacity when discharged at room temperature at a discharge rate of C/3. The material comprises metal fluoride (0.5-4 mole percent). The metal fluoride comprises aluminum fluoride (AlF3). The solution comprises acetate anions, sulfate anions and/or nitrate anions.M=metal ions having an average valance of +3 (preferably Mn, Co and Ni);M'=metal ions having an average valance of +4 (preferably Mn);x=0-1;x'=0.05-0.25;alpha =0.1-0.4;beta =0.4-0.65;gamma =0.05-0.3;delta =0-0.1;z=0-0.1;M1=Mg, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y or Nb;x1=0.05-0.25. EXAMPLE - Stoichiometric amounts of lithium acetate, nickel acetate, cobalt acetate and manganese acetate in appropriate mole ratio were dissolved in water to form a saturated transition metal acetate solution containing Ni, Co, Mn ions. A saturated solution comprising lithium hydroxide (LiOH) and at least twice the concentration of ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) in required mole ratio was also prepared. The transition metal acetate solution was dripped slowly into the LiOH/NH4OH solution to allow the formation of precipitates of transition metal hydroxides. Upon completion of the addition of the transition metal acetate solution, the reaction mixture was slowly warmed up to 110 degrees C briefly. The reaction mixture was warmed up to 140 degrees C to remove water through evaporation. Upon substantial removal of water from the reaction mixture, the mixture turned to a viscous semi-solid mass. The semi-solid mass was transferred to a large volume crucible and heated slowly to 480 degrees C for 10 hours. The solid obtained after the calcination was gently ground to form a powder, which was calcined at 800-1000 degrees C to improve electrochemical performance. The processing was performed in an oxygen free atmosphere. The product composition was Li1.2Ni0.175Co0.10Mn0.525O2.