The morphologies, crystal structures and electrochemical properties of the LiV3O8 powders prepared by spray pyrolysis at various preparation temperatures are investigated. The pure crystal structures of layered LiV3O8 phase are obtained after post-treatment at 400 degrees C irrespective of the preparation temperatures of the as-prepared powders. However, the morphologies of the post-treated LiV3O8 powders are affected by the preparation temperatures of the as-prepared powders. The powders prepared at 600, 900 and 1000 degrees C have spherical shapes before and after post-treatment. The mean size of the LiV3O8 powders obtained from the as-prepared powders obtained at 900 degrees C is 0.63 mu m. The discharge capacities of the LiV3O8 powders obtained from the as-prepared powders obtained at 900 C decreased from 300 to 289 mAh g(-1) by the 30th cycles at a current density of 0.1 C. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.