Li1+x[Mn0.45Co0.40Ni0.15]O-2 spherical cathode materials with different sizes (about 2 and 5 mu m) were fabricated by calcining uniform spherical metal carbonate, [Mn0.45Co0.40Ni0.15]CO3 with lithium hydroxide at high temperature. The precursor of spherical metal carbonate, [Mn0.45Co0.40Ni0.15]CO3, was obtained via co-precipitation method at room temperature, which was significantly dependent on synthetic conditions, such as the reaction temperature, the concentration of NH4HCO3, and stirring speed, etc. The optimized condition resulted in [Mn0.45Co0.40Ni0.15]CO3, of which the particle size distribution was uniform and the particle shape was spherical. The final products, Li1+x[Mn0.45Co0.40Ni0.15]O-2, had a well-ordered layered structure and uniform homogenecity. Raman spectroscopy analysis showed the Raman-active species E-g and A(1g) modes were observed at 488, 473 cm(-1) and 597, 590 cm(-1), respectively, for the obtained spherical cathode materials. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.