1. A carbonate precursor compound for the manufacture of lithium metal (M) oxide powder useful as an active positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries, M comprising 20 to 90 mol% Ni, 10 to 70 mol% Mn and 10 to 40 mol% Co, the precursor further comprising sodium and sulfur impurities, wherein the molar ratio of sodium to sulfur (Na/S) is 0.4<Na/S<2, and wherein the sodium (Na) is expressed in weight%<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>) And sulfur (S)<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>) Sum of contents (2. multidot. Na)<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>)+S<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>More than 0.4 wt% and less than 1.6 wt%.
the precursor
Sum of contents (2. multidot. Na)<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>)+S<Sub>Weight (D)</Sub>
0.4 wt% and less than 1.6 wt%
wt%