To improve the high-rate capacity and cycle ability, minor Li2ZrO3 successfully coat the nanoparticles of 0.4Li2MnO3·0.6LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (LMO) via sol–gel method. The crystal structure and electrochemical properties of the bare and coated material are studied by X-ray diffractometry (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), cyclic voltammetry (CV), galvanostatic intermittent titration technique (GITT), and charge–discharge tests. The lithium diffusion coefficient of LMO increases one to two orders of magnitude after Li2ZrO3 coating. Li2ZrO3 coating improves the rate capability and cycling stability of LMO. Within the cut-off voltage of 2.5–4.8 V, the initial discharge capacity of Li2ZrO3-coated 0.4Li2MnO3·0.6LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 (LZO-LMO) reaches to 264 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C rate, and the capacity remains 235 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles. At the current rates of 1, 2, 5 and 10 C, the maximum discharge capacities of LZO-LMO are 205.6, 161, 153.8 and 106 mAh g−1, respectively. Minor Li2ZrO3 modification plays an important role to enhance the high-rate capability and cycle ability of LMO.