The spherical Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O-2 powders with appropriate porosity, small particle size and good particle size distribution were successfully prepared by a slurry spray drying method. The Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O-2 powders were characterized by XRD, SEM, ICP, BET, EIS and galvanostatic charge/discharge testing. The material calcined at 950 degrees C had the best electrochemical performance. Its initial discharge capacity was 188.9 mAh g(-1) at the discharge rate of 0.2 C (32 mA g(-1)), and retained 91.4% of the capacity on going from 0.2 to 4 C rate. From the EIS result, it was found that the favorable electrochemical performance of the Li[Ni1/3Co1/3Mn1/3]O-2 cathode material was primarily attributed to the particular morphology formed by the spray drying process which was favorable for the charge transfer during the deintercalation and intercalation cycling. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.