Lithium insertion in FeNb2O6 and CrNb2O6 has been investigated using the galvanostatic charge-discharge method and showed that more than half of the intercalated Li+ during first cycle is retained in the structure and is not de-intercalated during subsequent cycles. The effects of sintering on FeNb2O6 were investigated with lower applied temperatures yielding higher Li+ intercalation capability. Post galvanostatic XRD shows that the initial phase has been retained during cell cycling. Cyclic voltammetry reveals that chromium also takes part in electro-chemical activity in CrNb2O6. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.