Lithium iron oxides (LixFeyOz) have been synthesized using LiOH and alpha-FeOOH by a solid-state method at various temperatures (200-800degreesC). The lithium iron oxide obtained at 200degreesC is composed of three types of structure namely, alpha-LiFe5O8, beta-LiFe5O8, and a trace of cubic alpha-LiFeO2. It exhibits not only a high initial discharge capacity 215 mAh g(-1), but also excellent cycling retention from the 11th to the 50th cycle (95%) between 1.5 and 4.5 V. On the other hand, the powder obtained at 800degreesC has a well-developed, single alpha-LiFeO2 phase and gives a very poor cycle performance below 5 mAh g(-1) under the same test conditions. It is also found that lithium iron oxide obtained at 200degreesC is first transformed into the spinet LiFe5O8 phase and is then converted into the tetragonal LiFeO2 phase after a long-term cycling. It is suggested that the tetragonal LiFeO2 phase might assist the stabilization of the original lithium iron oxide structure on cycling. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.