Soft chemistry was used to prepare ordered nanophase Li0.6NiO2 electrode materials by completing the oxidation of Ni2+ to Ni3+ and/or Ni4+ species with H2O2 oxidant during solution reactions at 50-60 degrees C and evaporation at 105-150 degrees C rather than during sintering. Both elemental analysis and electron spectroscopy for chemical analysis (ESCA) results indicate that oxidation was completed. The deconvoluted ESCA spectra of nickel ions exhibited a semi-quantitative ratio of Ni4+:Ni3+=60:40 which presented no significant change with increase of sintering time. After sintering for up to 11 h at 700 degrees C, ordered Li0.61Ni0.96O2.0 ceramics were formed (R3m, a(0)=0.2837 nm, c(0)=1.417 nm). Distribution of the crystallite size was in the range of 80-200 nm. As sintering times were increased, the crystallite shapes exhibited a more distinct morphology, and the ordering degree of the cations was enhanced, while the conductivity was sharply enhanced up to 2.0 x 10(-1) Omega(-1) cm(-1) at 30 degrees C. Compared to conventional ceramic and solution methods, the Ordered nanophase Li0.61Ni0.96O2.0 ceramics was obtained at 700 degrees C with shorter sintering times (approximate to 11 h).