The　high-nickel　cathode　material　of　LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2　(LNCA)　has　a　prospective　application　for　lithium-ion　batteries　due　to　the　high　capacity　and　low　cost.　However,　the　side　reaction　between　the　electrolyte　and　the　electrode　seriously　affects　the　cycling　stability　of　lithium-ion　batteries.　In　this　work,　Ni2+　preoxidation　and　the　optimization　of　calcination　temperature　were　carried　out　to　reduce　the　cation　mixing　of　LNCA,　and　solid-phase　Al-doping　improved　the　uniformity　of　element　distribution　and　the　orderliness　of　the　layered　structure.　In　addition,　the　surface　of　LNCA　was　homogeneously　modified　with　ZnO　coating　by　a　facile　wet-chemical　route.　Compared　to　the　pristine　LNCA,　the　optimized　ZnO-coated　LNCA　showed　excellent　electrochemical　performance　with　the　first　discharge-specific　capacity　of　187.5　mA　h　g-1,　and　the　capacity　retention　of　91.3%　at　0.2C　after　100　cycles.　The　experiment　demonstrated　that　the　improved　electrochemical　performance　of　ZnO-coated　LNCA　is　assigned　to　the　surface　coating　of　ZnO　which　protects　LNCA　from　being　corroded　by　the　electrolyte　during　cycling.　©　2021　Fangfang　Wang　et　al.,　published　by　De　Gruyter　2021.