Abstract: A progress of lithium-rich cathode materials based on Li<sub<2</sub<MnO<sub<3</sub< with a high specific capacity is reviewed. The discussion of characters of structure and lithium-ion intercalation-deintercalation mechanisms of lithium-rich cathode materials <em<z</em<Li<sub<2</sub<MnO<sub<3</sub<·(1-<em<z</em<)LiMO<sub<2</sub<(0< <em<z</em<<1,M=Mn<sub<0.5</sub<Ni<sub<0.5</sub<,Mn<sub<<em<x</em<</sub<Ni<sub<<em<y</em<</sub<Co<sub<(1-<em<x-y</em<)</sub<,0<<em<x,y</em<<0.5) is mainly focused on. The synthesis, electrochemical performances, modifications and current problems of the binary and ternary lithium-rich materials are summarized, and further research hot points and orientation of these kinds of materials as cathode materials for lithium ion batteries are pointed out.