NOVELTY - Lithium ion battery positive electrode material, comprises: either a lithium metal oxide (I); or a lithium metal oxide (II) coated with a metal/metalloid oxide coating composition, where the coating composition comprises less than 2 wt.% of the positive electrode material, and the positive electrode material has a specific discharge capacity of at least 260 mAh/g with a discharge rate of C/3 when discharged of 4.6-2 V at room temperature.    USE - The lithium ion battery positive electrode material is useful in high energy applications including electric vehicles and plug in hybrid vehicles.    ADVANTAGE - The lithium ion battery positive electrode material exhibits improved high energy density, cycling performance and specific discharge capacity.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - Lithium ion battery positive electrode material, comprises: either a lithium metal oxide of formula (Li1+xM1-xO2-zFz) (I); or a lithium metal oxide of formula (Li1+aNi( alpha )Mn( beta )CO( gamma )A( delta )O2-zFz) (II) coated with a metal/metalloid oxide coating composition, where the coating composition comprises less than 2 wt.% of the positive electrode material, and the positive electrode material has a specific discharge capacity of at least 260 mAh/g with a discharge rate of C/3 when discharged of 4.6-2 V at room temperature.    M = a non-lithium metal element;    x = 0.01-0.3;    z = 0-0.2, coated with 0.1-0.75 wt.% of a metal/metalloid oxide;    a = 0.05-0.3;    alpha = 0-0.4;    beta = 0.2-0.65;    gamma = 0-0.46;    delta = 0-0.15; and    A = Mg, Sr, Ba, Cd, Zn, Al, Ga, B, Zr, Ti, Ca, Ce, Y, Nb, Cr, Fe and/or V.    Provided that both alpha and gamma are not 0. INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for:    (1) a lithium ion battery (100) comprising a positive electrode (104), a negative electrode (102) comprising a lithium incorporation composition, a separator (106) between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and an electrolyte comprising lithium ions, where the positive electrode comprises an active material, distinct electrically conductive powders and a polymer binder, the positive electrode active material comprises lithium metal oxide coated with a metal/metalloid oxide coating composition, and the lithium metal oxide is of formula (Li1+bNi( alpha )Mn( beta )CO( gamma )A( delta )O2-zFz) (III); and    (2) forming a coated positive electrode active composition for a lithium-ion based battery, comprising heating the active material with an aluminum precursor coating at 500-800 degrees C.    b = 0.05-0.3.    DESCRIPTION OF DRAWING(S) - The figure shows a schematic drawing of a lithium ion battery structure separated from a container.    Lithium ion battery (100)    Negative electrode (102)    Positive electrode (104)    Separator (106)    Current collectors. (108, 110)