LiNiO2-based layered oxides are of great importance as cathode materials for rechargeable batteries. In this paper, illustrating LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2 as an example, the effect of nanoscale MnCO3 treatment on LiNiO2-based materials is investigated for the first time. The structures of materials and the properties about the object surface are characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDAX and XPS. The results demonstrate that a part of MnCO3 is able to react with lithium impurities to form nonstoichiometric LixMNyO4 and the rest of MnCO3 is converted to MnO2 coating on the surface of the material in situ. After 100 repeated cycles at 1C, the modified material exhibits a capacity retention rate of 91.2%, while the bare material only remains 84.8%. And the modified material exhibits more significantly improved cycling stability when cycling at 60 degrees C, maintaining 85.7% of its initial capacity at 1C after 100th cycles. The consumption of Li impurities can decelerate the decomposition of electrolyte during cycling, thus result in less resistive byproducts. Moreover, the obtained MnO2 coating layer acts as an isolating layer to suppress the drastic reaction between active material and electrolyte. This synergistic effect is responsible for the excellent properties of MnCO3-modified material. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.