A lithium metal oxide powder for use as a cathode material in a rechargeable battery, consisting of a core material and a surface layer, the core having a layered crystal structure consisting of the elements Li, a metal M and oxygen, wherein the Li to M molar ratio is between 0.98 and 1.01, and preferably between 0.99 and 1.00, wherein the metal M has the formula M=Co_1-aM′_a, with 0≦a≦0.05, wherein M′ is either one or more metals of the group consisting of Al, Ga and B; and the surface layer consisting of a mixture of the elements of the core material and inorganic N- and N′-based oxides, wherein N is either one or more metals of the group consisting of Mg, Ti, Fe, Cu, Ca, Ba, Sn, Sb, Na, Zn, and Si; and wherein N′ is either one or more metals of the group consisting of Y, Zr, Nb, Mo, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, Sc, Ce, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy, and Er.

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