A solid-state lithium-based battery having fast charging and recharging speeds (above 3 C) is provided by including a nitrogen-enriched lithiated cathode material surface layer between the lithiated cathode material layer and the lithium-based solid-state electrolyte layer. The nitrogen-enriched lithiated cathode material surface layer can be formed by introducing nitrogen into a lithiated cathode material. The nitrogen can be introduced during the final stage of a deposition process or by utilizing a different process, such as, for example, thermal nitridation, than a deposition process.