Formation cycle is a significant step in battery processing, as it leads to the build-up of stable solid electrolyte interphase layer that affects various parameters of batteries. Although fast formation cycle is more economical way to realize the battery production, it is generally known that fast formation cycle of conventional electrode materials leads to capacity degradation. In this study, we report the high-rate formation cycle step to induce excellent electrochemical performance, in the case of Co3O4 nanoparticle. Surprisingly, Co3O4 nanoparticle that runs in the formation cycle at rather high current density (1.0 A g(-1)) exhibits superior electrochemical performance compared with Co3O4 nanoparticle that runs in the formation cycle at 0.05 A g(-1). Such enhanced electrochemical performance after the high-rate formation cycle for Co3O4 can be mainly attributed to the stabilization of solid electrolyte interphase layer upon cycling and initial partial agglomeration that forms secondary particles. This work firstly paves the possibility of employing high-rate formation cycle to induce improved electrochemical performance, which can also be extended to various alternative electrode materials. (C) 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.