A　solvothermal　route　has　been　adopted　to　prepare　gamma-LiV2O5　nanorods　via　the　reaction　of　vanadium　pentoxide　(V2O5)　and　lithium　hydrate　(LiOH)　in　ethanol　at　160-200　degreesC.　The　as-obtained　products　were　characterized　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　Fourier　transform　infrared　(FTIR)　spectroscopy,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy　(XPS)　and　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM).　The　electrochemical　performance　of　products　as　cathode　active　materials　was　investigated,　which　indicates　that　the　nanorods　of　gamma-LiV2O5　with　smaller　size　showed　better　electrochemical　properties.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.