The present application provides a positive
electrode active material and a method for preparing the same. The
chemical formula of the positive
electrode active material is Li 1+a [Ni x Co y Mn z M1 b M2 c O 2 , where 0.05 < a < 0.5, 1 / 3 ≤ x < 1, 0 ≤ y < 1 / 3, 0 ≤ z < 1 / 3, 0 < b < 0.1, 0 < c < 0.1, x + y + z + b + c = 1, M1 is one or more elements selected from Mo, Zr, W, Sb, Nb, Te, and Ga, M2 is one or more elements selected from Mg, Al, Ca, and Ti. The positive
electrode active material includes a
lithium-rich layer extending from the particle surface to the particle interior. On a cross-section passing through the geometric center of a single particle of the positive electrode active material, the ratio of the average
Li element content per unit area in the
lithium-rich layer to the average
Li element content per unit area in the non-
lithium-rich layer is (>1 - 1.5):1. The positive electrode active material of the present application has a high tap density and improved
structural stability, effectively improving the
energy density of the battery and improving the cycle performance and safety performance of the battery. The present application also provides a secondary battery and an electrical device including the positive electrode active material.