The invention belongs to the technical field of battery materials, and discloses a cobalt-free layered nickel-manganese positive electrode material and a preparation method and application thereof. The chemical formula of the cobalt-free layered nickel-manganese positive electrode material is LiaNixMnyMezO2@Mb, wherein Me is at least one of Zr, Al, W, Sr, Ti or Mg; and M is at least one of Al2O3, CeO2, TiO2, Yb2O3, Nb2O5, La2O3, WO3, titanium sol, aluminum sol, titanium aluminum sol, aluminum isopropoxide, butyl titanate, dialuminum hydrogen phosphate or lithium tungstate. Shallow layer coating is achieved through high-temperature sintering after metal oxide coating, and the shallow layer coating of the material is beneficial for preventing microcrack expansion caused by material structure change and internal stress change in the charging and discharging process in the circulation process of the material.