Lithium insertion compound having the following formula (I):
Li.sub..alpha.M.sub..beta.M1.sub.vM2.sub.wM3.sub.xM4.sub.yM5.sub.zB.sub..-
gamma.(XO.sub.4-.epsilon.Z.sub..epsilon.).sub.1 (I) M is selected from
V.sup.2+, Mn.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+ and Ni.sup.2+; M1 is selected
from Na.sup.+ and K.sup.+; M2 is selected from Mg.sup.2+, Zn.sup.2+,
Cu.sup.2+, Ti.sup.2+, and Ca.sup.2+; M3 is selected from Al.sup.3+,
Ti.sup.3+, Cr.sup.3+, Fe.sup.3+, Mn.sup.3+, Ga.sup.3+, and V.sup.3+; M4
is selected from Ti.sup.4+, Ge.sup.4+, Sn.sup.4+, V.sup.4+, and
Zr.sup.4+; M5 is selected from V.sup.5+, Nb.sup.5+, and Ta.sup.5+; X is
an element in oxidation state m, exclusively occupying a tetrahedral site
and coordinated by oxygen or a halogen, which is selected from B.sup.3+,
Al.sup.3+, V.sup.5+, Si.sup.4+, P.sup.5+, S.sup.6+, Ge.sup.4+ and
mixtures thereof; Z is a halogen selected from F, Cl, Br and I; the
coefficients .alpha., .beta., v, w, x, y, z, .gamma. and .epsilon. are
all positive and satisfy the following equations:
0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.2 (1); 1.ltoreq..beta..ltoreq.2 (2);
0<.gamma. (3); 0.ltoreq..alpha..ltoreq.2 (3);
0.ltoreq..epsilon..ltoreq.2 (4);
.alpha.+2.beta.+3.gamma.+v+2w+3x+4y+5z+m=8-.epsilon. (5); and
<.gamma..beta..ltoreq. ##EQU00001##
preferably,<.gamma..beta..ltoreq. ##EQU00002## Methods for preparing
these compounds.Active materials of electrodes, in particular of positive
electrodes containing said compounds, and batteries and electrochromic
devices using these compounds.
