A simple and novel route for the synthesis of a lithium zinc phosphate hydrate, alpha-LiZnO4 center dot H2O, Was studied, and the target product was obtained with LiH2PO4 center dot H2O and ZnCO3 as raw materials and polyethylene glycol-400 (PEG-400) as a surfactant via a one step solid-state reaction at room temperature (25 degrees C). The product was characterized with X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis and the 1st derivativative of thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The comparison experimental results suggested that aging temperature controlled the products of the synthesis, that is, the alpha-LiZnPO4 center dot H2O was formed when the reaction mixture was aged at room temperature, and the alpha-LiZnPO4 Was obtained when the reaction mixture was aged at 80 degrees C. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier Ltd.