Spinel LiMn2-xCrxO4 (0 less than or equal to x less than or equal to 0.20) powders with small and uniformly sized particles were successfully synthesized by microwave-induced combustion, using lithium nitrate, manganese nitrate, chromium nitrate and urea as the starting materials. The LiMn2-xCrxO4 powders synthesized by microwave-induced combustion and solid-state reaction were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimeter analyzer (TGA) and a surface area measurement. The LiMn2-xCrxO4 samples were used as cathode materials for lithium-ion battery, whose discharge capacity and electrochemical characteristic properties in terms of cycle performance were also investigated. The results revealed that the Li/LiMn2-xCrxO4 Cell synthesized by microwave-induced combustion had a high initial capacity and much better reversibility than one formed in a solid-state reaction. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.