Spherical LiNiO2@LiCoO2 as cathode material for lithium ion batteries was synthesized by firing the mixture of beta-NiOOH@beta-CoOOH and LiOH at low temperature in air atmosphere. The effect of synthesis conditions on the structure of the resultant samples was investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, and energy dispersive spectroscope. Spherical LiNiO2@LiCoO2 obtained at 600 A degrees C for 24 h exhibited best layered hexagonal structure and remained core-shell property. Electrochemical test demonstrated that LiNiO2@LiCoO2 had high initial discharge capacity of 181.4 mA h g(-1), better cycle, and storage stability than pure LiNiO2 prepared from spherical beta-NiOOH. ; National Science Foundation of China [20673089, 20423002]; Key Scientific Project of Fujian Province of China [2005HZ01-3]; 973 Program [2009CB939804]