NOVELTY - A positive electrode active material comprises carbon coating layer provided on lithium complex oxide (I). In C1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum of the positive electrode active material, a peak intensity of peak (A) at a binding energy of 288-293 eV is more than the peak intensity of peak (B) at binding energy of 283-287 eV, and in O1s X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the positive electrode active material, peak intensity of peak (C) at binding energy of 530.5-535 eV is more than the peak intensity of peak (D) at binding energy of 527.5-530 eV.    USE - Positive electrode active material is used in lithium battery (claimed) for laptop, smart phone, electric vehicle and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.    ADVANTAGE - The positive electrode active material has excellent durability, stability and conductivity. The lithium battery provided using the positive electrode active material has high energy density and excellent charging/discharging characteristics, and suppressed electrolyte decomposition on surface of the positive electrode.    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - A positive electrode active material comprises carbon coating layer provided on lithium complex oxide of formula: LiaMbM'cM"dOe (I), where a is 0-1, b, c and d are 0-2, e is 1-4, M and M' are chosen from nickel, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, copper, iron, chromium, germanium, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, tungsten, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, scandium, titanium, vanadium, gallium, niobium, silver, hafnium, gold, cesium, boron and barium, and M" is chosen from nickel, cobalt, manganese, molybdenum, copper, iron, chromium, germanium, aluminum, magnesium, zirconium, tungsten, ruthenium, rhodium, palladium, osmium, iridium, platinum, scandium, titanium, vanadium, gallium, niobium, silver, hafnium, gold, cesium, barium, silicon, boron, fluorine, sulfur and phosphorus. In C1s X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectrum of the positive electrode active material, a peak intensity of peak (A) at a binding energy of 288-293 eV is more than the peak intensity of peak (B) at binding energy of 283-287 eV, and in O1s X-ray photoelectron spectrum of the positive electrode active material, peak intensity of peak (C) at binding energy of 530.5-535 eV is more than the peak intensity of peak (D) at binding energy of 527.5-530 eV. An INDEPENDENT CLAIM is included for preparation of positive electrode active material.