In the present paper the electrochemical behavior, as cathodes, of the inverse spinels of general formula LiCoyNi(1-y)VO4 has been studied in comparison with ether mixed oxides, in which V is substituted by Sb (LiCoSbO4) and Ni and Co by Mn (LiMnVO4). The experimental findings showed that the oxides LiCoyNi(1-y)VO4 are promising cathode materials. The other samples did not show good results: their structures proved to be irreversibly modified in some way by Li-ion deintercalation. This problem, seemingly, cannot be overcome by changing synthesis parameters. The preliminary series of tests, whose results are here reported, served as a first insight in the relations that tie method of preparation, morphology, crystallochemical and intercalation-deintercalation properties together. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.