Gradient　composites,　LiNi1-yCoyO2,　are　synthesized　from　coated　spherical　Ni(OH)(2)　precursor.　These　composites　could　be　applied　as　new　cathode　materials　in　lithium-ion　batteries　because　they　have　low　cobalt　content　(yless　than　or　equal　to0.2)　and　exhibit　excellent　properties　during　high-rate　charge/discharge　cycles.　The　initial　discharge　capacity　of　coated　composite　of　LiNi0.95Co0.05O2　is　186　mAh/g,　and　the　decreasing　rate　of　the　capacity　is　3.2%　in　50　cycles　at　1　C　rate.　It　has　been　verified　by　TEM　and　EDX　experiments　that　a　core-shell　structure　of　the　composite　particles　develops　because　of　the　cobalt　enrichment　near　the　surfaces,　and　the　formation　of　the　cobalt　enrichment　layer　is　sensitive　to　sintering　temperature.　High　cobalt　surface　concentration　may　reduce　the　undesired　reactions　and　stabilize　the　structure　of　the　particles.