NOVELTY - A positive electrode active material for a lithium ion cell has a discharge capacity at a 10th discharge cycle of at least 240 mAh/g at room temperature at a discharge rate of C/3 when discharged from 4.6-2 volts.    USE - As positive electrode active material for a lithium ion cell particularly secondary lithium ion battery (claimed), used in electric vehicles and plug in hybrid vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The positive electrode active material have a discharge capacity at a 10th discharge cycle of at least 245 (preferably 250-275) mAh/g at room temperature at a discharge rate of C/3 when discharged from 4.6-2 volts. The electrode material has a discharge capacity at the 20th cycle that is at least 98.5% of the 5th cycle discharge capacity when discharged at room temperature with a rate of C/3. The lithium ion cell achieves improved cycling performance while exhibiting high specific capacity. Use of a metal fluoride coatings provide further cycling enhancement. The positive electrode materials also exhibit a high average voltage over a discharge cycle so that the cells have high power output along with a high specific capacity. The positive electrode materials demonstrate a reduced proportion of irreversible capacity loss after the first charge and discharge of the cell so that negative electrode material can be correspondingly reduced if desired. The combination of excellent cycling performance and high specific capacity make these resulting lithium ion batteries an improved power source, particularly for high energy applications, such as electric vehicles and plug in hybrid vehicles. The positive electrode active materials for lithium secondary batteries, provide high specific discharge capacities following cycling at moderate rates.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a secondary lithium ion battery (100) comprising a positive electrode (104) comprising the positive electrode active material, a negative electrode (102) comprising a lithium intercalation composition and a separator (106) between the positive electrode and the negative electrode;    (2) synthesis (m1) of a layered lithium metal oxide composition, involving precipitating a mixed metal hydroxide composition from a solution comprising +2 metal cations where the hydroxide composition has a selected composition;    (3) synthesis (m2) of a layered lithium metal oxide composition, involving calcining at temperatures of at least 750 degrees C a sol gel composition comprising lithium ions and +2 metal cations to form a crystalline layered lithium metal oxide composition.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic drawing of the battery structure separated from a container.    Secondary lithium ion battery (100)    Negative electrode (102)    Positive electrode (104)    Separator (106)    Current collectors (108,110)