LiCoO2 is synthesized via a hydrothermal reaction of cobalt salt, LiOH center dot H2O and suitable amount of H2O2. A series of LiCoO2 + x% S mixtures are prepared by simply mixing LiCoO2 and S powder with different LiCoO2/S weight ratios, and investigated as anode material for alkaline secondary battery. At the discharge current density of 500 mA g(-1), LiCoO2 + 5% S mixture electrode displays the maximum discharge capacity of 320 mAh g(-1). Meanwhile, the LiCoO2 + 10% S mixture electrode shows the most outstanding cycle performance with a capacity retention rate of over 94% after 150th charge-discharge cycles. Moreover, the charge-discharge reaction mechanism of LiCoO2 + x% S mixture electrodes is also investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.