Surface reactions of electrode materials with electrolyte can be severely detrimental to performance and lifetime of a battery material. Coatings, such as Al₂O₃, facilitate lithium conduction and block electrolyte degradation. However, the mechanisms controlling how these coatings interact with the cathode surface and improve battery performance are not well understood. The role of the exposed crystal face of cathode materials may have a major impact on the ability of the coating material to bind with the cathode surface. By evaluating the effectiveness of coatings at different crystal planes, we can gain a better understanding of the surface reactivity of cathode materials such as LiCoO₂. To accomplish this, we are investigating coating the surface of single crystal LiCoO₂ with coating materials such as Al_­2O₃ and determining the amount of coating present on an edge or basal plane using XPS. We are extending this knowledge to future coating design to selectivity coat the LiCoO₂ surface to improve battery performance.