The present invention relates to a method of preparing a positive active material for a rechargeable
lithium battery, a positive active material prepared according to the method, and a rechargeable
lithium battery including the same. This manufacturing method includes preparing a complex
salt solution by mixing a solution including a
metal source material and a chelating agent, disposing the complex salt on the surface of a
lithium-included compound by adding a lithium-included compound to the complex
salt solution, adding a solution including a
fluorine source material to the solution including a lithium-included compound with the complex salt on the surface, and heat-treating the mixture. The present invention provides a simple method of economically preparing a positive active material in which
structural transition on the surface is prevented and securing a uniform
coating layer. In addition, the positive active material can have improved
charge and discharge characteristics, cycle life characteristic, and rate characteristic. It also has improved
ion conductivity, and accordingly can improve mobility of lithium ions in an
electrolyte and thereby improve
discharge potential of a battery. Furthermore, the positive active material can decrease the amount of a conductive material and increase density of a substrate.