This study introduces a novel approach to enhancing the electrochemical properties of nickel-rich single crystal NCM811 (Li[Ni0.8Co0.1Mn0.1]O2) cathodes through carbon surface coating. Utilizing low-cost sucrose as a precursor, we applied a carbon-doped shell-like structure to the sNCM811 surface via convective flow treatment, optimized for temperature and coating density. This carbon surface layer significantly improved the delithiation kinetics, enabling rapid and stable electrochemical reactions. Notably, it mitigated electrical isolation, suppressed irreversible phase transitions, and reduced electrolyte-related side reactions within the sNCM811 during repeated charge-discharge cycles. Cathodes with a 7 wt.% sucrose coating demonstrated a high discharge capacity of 218 mAh g−1 at 0.1C/0.1C charge/discharge rates, with impressive capacity retention of 89 % after 100 cycles at 1C/1C charging/discharging. This represents a performance enhancement of 16 % and an improvement in cycle stability of 5.6 % over bare sNCM811. Furthermore, even at high charging/discharging rates of 5C/5C, the coated cathodes maintained a notable capacity of 125 mAh g−1, effectively mitigating structural degradation under high-output conditions. These findings suggest that carbon-coated sNCM811 is a promising solution for addressing degradation issues in high-capacity, high-output nickel-rich cathodes, potentially revolutionizing lithium-ion battery systems in demanding applications.