The preparation methods, materials' characterization, and electrochemical properties of inverse spinel materials, such as LiNiVO4, LiCoVO4, and LiNiyCo1-yVO4, are reviewed. The preparation methods include conventional ceramic sintering, solution co-precipitation, sol-gel, and hydrothermal methods. Recent structural results for these materials obtained from XRD, IR, Raman, Li-7 NMR, EXAFS, and XANES analyses are presented. Their electrochemical properties in terms of cyclic voltammetry, electrical conductivity, cathode and anode performance were also discussed. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
