TECHNOLOGY FOCUS - INORGANIC CHEMISTRY - Preferred Components: The metal/metalloid oxide comprises aluminum oxide, bismuth oxide or magnesium oxide (all preferred), boron oxide, zirconium oxide, chromium oxide, magnesium aluminate, gallium oxide, silicon oxide, tin oxide, calcium oxide, strontium oxide, barium oxide, titanium oxide, ferric oxide, molybdenum oxide (MoO3 or MoO2), cerium oxide, lanthanum oxide, zinc oxide or lithium aluminum oxide (LiAlO2). The lithium metal oxide has a structure of formula (xLi2M1O3.(1-x)LiM2O2), preferably (Li1+bNiaMnb1CocAdO2) (A), (Li1+bNiaMnb1CocO2) (B) or (LiNiu+d1Mnu-d1CowAyO2) (C). The irreversible capacity loss is reduced by at least about 15% relative to the irreversible capacity loss of the uncoated lithium metal oxide. The coating composition is present at 0.025-1 (preferably 0.1-0.75) wt.%. The aluminum precursor coating comprises aluminum hydroxide. The positive electrode active composition comprises a lithium rich metal oxide (IIA), where the coated positive electrode active composition comprises 0.1-0.75 wt.% of an aluminum oxide coating.M1 = metal ions having an average valance of +4;M2 = metal ions having an average valance of +3;x = greater than 0 and less than 1.In formula (A):b = 0.05-0.35;a = 0-0.4;b1 = 0.2-0.65;c = 0-0.46;d = 0-0.15 with the proviso that both a and c are not zero;A = Mg, Sr, Ba, Cd, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb, Cr, Fe and/or V.In formula (B):b = 0.05-0.3;a = 0-0.4;b1 = 0.2-0.65; andc = 0-0.46In formula (C):d1 = -0.3-0.3;w = 0-1;u = 0-0.5;y = 0-0.1, with the proviso that both u+d1 and w are not zero and 2u+w+y is l. EXAMPLE - Lithium carbonate powder was combined with a dried metal carbonate or hydroxide powder and thoroughly mixed to form a homogenous powder mixture. A portion, e.g. 5 g of the homogenized powders was calcined at 400-800 degrees C for 1-24 hours under nitrogen or air flow to form the oxide, followed by an additional mixing step to further homogenize the powder. The further homogenized powder was again calcined at 700-1100 degrees C for 1-36 hours under nitrogen or air flow to form the highly crystalline lithium composite oxide. Aluminum nitrate was first dissolved in water to form a solution of aluminum nitrate. The lithium metal oxide (LMO) particles obtained were dispersed under constant stirring to form a well-dispersed mixture. Ammonium hydroxide was added dropwise resulting in the precipitation of aluminum hydroxide to coat the LMO particles. After the addition of ammonium hydroxide, the mixture was heated roughly at 60 degrees C for 2-10 hours. The mixture was filtered, and the solid obtained was subjected to copious washing to form a material with precipitated aluminum hydroxide on the active LMO material. The material was calcined at for 4-12 hours to form aluminum oxide coated LMO powder.