The stability of lithium aluminate (LiAlO2) powders have been studied under reducing (4% H-2-N-2) and oxidizing (Air) atmospheres at 700 degrees C. While XRD results show the raw alpha-LiAlO2 samples contain a minor fraction of LiAl2(OH)(7)center dot 2H(2)O and LiAlO2 center dot 0.25H(2)O phases, high temperature XRD study shows that LiAl2(OH)(7)center dot 2H(2)O may have decomposed at 700 degrees C to gamma-LiAlO2 and LiAlO2 center dot 0.25H(2)O to alpha-LiAlO2. Surface morphological studies show the samples consist of porous LiAlO2 spherical agglomerates with interconnected nanoparticles. The XPS analyses indicate that the powder surface Li/Al ratio decreases after exposure to reducing atmosphere whereas much less change to the oxidizing atmosphere. The binding energy of Al 2p peak also changes in the high-temperature reducing and oxidizing environments, indicating the presence and co-existence of different oxidation states of Al species on the surface. The color of LiAlO2 powder, examined visually, changed from white to gray after reduction and back to white after re-oxidation, indicating the likelihood of generation of non-stoichiometry under reducing atmosphere. (C) 2016 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.