The low field magnetic susceptibility and X-band ESR spectra of quasi-stoic
hiometric Li1-xNi1+xO2 samples have been measured. The anomaly around 240 K
, observed in Li0.98Ni1.02O2 under a 1 mT field. disappears under the conve
ntional magnetic fields used in ESR or susceptibility measurements. We comm
ent on the distribution of extra Ni ions in the lithium planes depending on
the synthesis conditions. The departure of x from the exact stoichiometry
determined by Rietveld refinements is not the single parameter which determ
ines the magnetic and therefore the electrochemical properties of Li1-xNi1xO2 samples. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.