A　novel　method　which　is　based　on　the　hydrothermal　reaction　was　employed　to　synthesize　LiV3O8.　First,　the　mixture　solution　of　LiOH,　V2O5,　and　NH4OH　was　subjected　to　the　hydrothermal　reaction.　The　hydrothermal　treatment　yielded　a　clear,　homogeneous　solution.　The　evaporation　of　this　solution　led　to　the　fort-nation　of　a　precursor　gel.　The　gel　was　then　heated　at　different　temperatures　in　the　range　of　300-600degreesC.　The　characterization　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　and　Fourier　transform　infrared　(FTIR)　indicated　that　LiV3O8　nanorods　have　been　obtained　by　this　novel　synthesis　method.　The　electrochemical　performance　of　the　LiV3O8　nanorods　have　been　investigated,　which　indicates　that　the　highest　discharge　specific　capacity　of　302　mAh/g　in　the　range　of　1.8-4.0　V　was　obtained　for　the　sample　heated　at　300degreesC,　and　its　capacity　remained　278　mAh/g　after　30　cycles.　(C)　2003　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.