Pure-phase and well-crystallized spinel LiMn2O4 powders as cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries were successfully synthesized by a new simple microwave-assisted rheological phase method, which was a timesaving and efficient method. The physical properties of the as-synthesized samples compared with the pristine LiMn2O4 obtained from the theological phase method were investigated by thermogravimetry analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electronic microscope (SEM). The as-prepared powders were used as positive materials for lithium-ion battery, whose charge/discharge properties and cycle performance were examined in detail. The powders resulting from the microwave-assisted theological phase method were pure, spinel structure LiMn2O4 particles of regular shapes with distribution uniformly, and exhibited promising electrochemical properties for battery. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were employed to characterize the reactions of Li-ion insertion into and extraction from LiMD2O4 electrode. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.