Nickel-rich layered materials are prospective cathode materials for use in lithium-ion batteries due to their higher capacity and lower cost relative to LiCoO2. In this work, spherical Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1(OH)2 precursors are successfully synthesized through a co-precipitation method. The synthetic conditions of the precursors - including the pH, stirring speed, molar ratio of NH4OH to transition metals and reaction temperature - are investigated in detail, and their variations have significant effects on the morphology, microstructure and tap-density of the prepared Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1 (OH)2 precursors. LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 is then prepared from these precursors through a reaction with 5% excess LiOH· H2O at various temperatures. The crystal structure, morphology and electrochemical properties of the Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1 (OH)2 precursors and LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 were investigated. In the voltage range from 3.0 to 4.3 V, LiNi0.8Co0.1Mn0.1O2 exhibits an initial discharge capacity of 193.0mAh g-1 at a 0.1 C-rate. The cathode delivers an initial capacity of 170.4 mAh g-1 at a 1 C-rate, and it retains 90.4% of its capacity after 100 cycles.