The iron tungstate materials Fe2WyO3(y+1) (y = 1 and 3) have been synthesized by a low temperature route. and their lithium insertion properties measured using galvanostatic and EVS measurements. This paper reports the lithium insertion into Fe2WO6, Fe2W3O12 and nano-composite Fe2WO6/WO3 materials made by this co-precipitation route. Relatively high initial discharge capacities were observed for all materials, the highest being 653.9 mAh g(-1) for the y = 3 material heat treated at 500 degrees C. Rapid capacity fade behaviour was observed for all materials prepared at 500 degrees C. Improved performance was determined for the iterations heat treated at 950 degrees C with a reversible specific capacity of 320 mAh g(-1) observed for the Fe2WO6 sample. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.