Composite cathode active material for lithium battery, cathode for lithium battery including the same, and lithium battery including the cathode

A method of preparing a composite cathode active material, the method comprising:

• providing an acidic zirconium precursor mixture comprising a zirconium precursor, a solvent, and an acid;
• providing a phosphorus precursor mixture comprising a phosphorus precursor and a solvent;
• mixing a lithium composite oxide with the acidic zirconium precursor mixture and the phosphorus precursor mixture;
• drying the mixture of the lithium composite oxide, the acidic zirconium precursor mixture, and the phosphorus precursor mixture to form a dried product;
• and
• heat-treating the dried product to prepare the composite cathode active material,
• wherein the composite cathode active material comprises:
• a lithium composite oxide;
• and
• a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of the lithium composite oxide and comprising a composite comprising ZrP2O7 and LiZr2(PO4)3.