Pristine spinel lithium manganese oxide(LiMn2O4) and zinc- and cerium-doped lithium manganese oxide [LiZnxCeyMn2-x-yO4 (x= 0.01-0.10; y = 0.10-0.01)] are synthesized for the first time via the sol-gel route using p-amino benzoic acid as a chelating agent to obtain micron-sized particles and enhanced electrochemical performance. The sol-gel route offers shorter heating time, better homogeneity and control over stoichiometry. The resulting spinel product is characterized through various methods such as thermogravimetic and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) and electrochemical galvanostatic cycling studies. Charge-discharge studies of LiMn2O4 samples heated at 850 degrees C exhibit a discharge capacity of 122 mAh g(-1) and a corresponding 99% coulombic efficiency in the 1st cycle. The discharge capacity and cycling performance of LiZn0.01Ce0.01 Mn1.98O4 is found to be Superior (124 mAh g(-1)), with a low capacity fade (0.1 mAh g(-1) cycle(-1)) over the investigated 10 cycles. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.