Fine-sized Li-Co-Mn-O cathode particles with various ratios of cobalt and manganese components were prepared by conventional solid-state reaction method using the nano-sized precursor particles. The nano-sized precursor particles of cobalt and manganese components were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The LiCo1-xMnxO2 (0.1 <= x <= 0.3) particles had finer size than that of the pure LiCoO2, particles. Manganese component disturbed the growth of the LiCo1-xMnxO2 cathode particles prepared by solid-state reaction method. The initial discharge capacities of the layered LiCo1-xMnxO2 (0 <= x <= 0.3) cathode particles decreased from 144 to 136 mAh g(-1) when the ratios of Co/Mn components were changed from 1/0 to 0.7/0.3. The mean sizes of the spinel LiMn2-yCoyO4 (0 <= y <= 0.2) cathode particles decreased from 650 to 460 nm when the ratios of Mn/Co components were changed from 2/0 to 1.8/0.2. The initial discharge capacities of the LiMn2-yCoyO4 (0 <= y <= 0.2) cathode particles decreased from 119 to 86 mAh g(-1) when the ratios of Mn/Co components were changed from 2/0 to 1.8/0.2. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.