Submicron-sized LiN1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 cathode materials were synthesized using a simple self-propagating solid-state metathesis method with the help of ball milling and the following calcination. A mixture of Li(ac)center dot 2H(2)O, Ni(ac)(2)center dot 4H(2)O, Co(ac)(2)center dot 4H(2)O, Mn(ac)(2)center dot 4H(2)O (ac = acetate) and excess H2C2O4 center dot 2H(2)O was used as starting material without any solvent. XRD analyses indicate that the LiN1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 materials were formed with typical hexagonal structure. The FESEM images show that the primary particle size of the LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 materials gradually increases from about 100 nm at 700 degrees C to 200-500 nm at 950 degrees C with increasing calcination temperature. Among the synthesized materials, the LiNi1/3Co1/3Mn1/3O2 material calcined at 900 degrees C exhibits excellent electrochemical performance. The steady discharge capacities of the material cycled at 1 C (160mA g(-1)) rate are at about 140 mAh g(-1) after 100 cycles in the voltage range 3-4.5 V (versus Li+/Li) and the capacity retention is about 87% at the 350th cycle. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.