POSITIVE ELECTRODE ACTIVE MATERIAL, PREPARATION METHOD OF THEREOF, POSITIVE ELECTRODE AND RECHARGEABLE LITHIUM BATTERIES

A positive electrode active material, a method of preparing the positive electrode active material, a positive electrode including the positive electrode active material, and a rechargeable lithium battery including the positive electrode are disclosed. The positive electrode active material may include core particles including a layered lithium nickel-based composite oxide and having a single particle shape; and a coating layer provided on the surface of the core particles and including cobalt and/or zirconium; wherein the lithium nickel-based composite oxide of the core particles includes aluminum and/or zirconium, a nickel content (e.g., amount) is greater than or equal to about 60 mol %, an aluminum content (e.g., amount) is about 0.8 mol % to about 1.5 mol %, and a zirconium content (e.g., amount) is about 0.1 mol % to about 0.3 mol %, based on 100 mol % of total metals excluding lithium.