A triethanolamine/sucrose (TEA/sucrose) assisted complexing method has been employed to synthesize LiNi0.5Co0.5O2 system which is considered to be a potential candidate as cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. The TEA/sucrose ratio has been varied and the changes in the structural and electrochemical properties of the systems have been studied and correlated. The prepared materials were characterized using XRD. SEM and electrochemical charge-discharge cycles. The particle sizes of the prepared materials were in the submicron range of similar to300-350 nm. LiNi0.5Co0.5O2 synthesized with a TEA/sucrose ratio 1:8 exhibited improved electrochemical performance which was well complemented by the structural studies. The 1st and the 10th discharge capacities were 152 and 144 mA h/g, respectively. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.