A positive electroactive material for a lithium-ion battery can have a tap density ranging from 2.50 to 2.90 g/cm3, a Span value ranging from 1.04 to 1.68 and/or a capacity ranging from 195 to 210 mAh/g obtained using a discharging current of C/5 current rate. The material can have a formula Lia[NixMnyCo1−x−y]zM1−zO2, wherein a is between approximately 1.02 and 1.07, x is between approximately 0.60 to 0.82, y is between approximately 0.09 to 0.20, z is between approximately 0.95 to 1.0, and 1−x−y is greater than 0. A cost-effective and large-scale synthetic method for preparing the positive electroactive material, an electrochemical cell containing the positive electroactive material, and a battery comprising one or more lithium ion electrochemical cells are also described.