The　pure-phase　Li1.2V3O8　was　synthesized　by　ultrasonically　dispersing　Li2CO3　and　NH4VO3　reactants.　Its　structure　and　morphology　compared　with　the　pristine　Li1+xV3O8　obtained　from　the　solid-state　reaction　were　investigated　by　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD)　and　scanning　electron　microscope　(SEM).　The　results　show　that　the　compound　synthesized　at　570　°C　from　the　precursor　obtained　by　ultrasonic　treatment　in　anhydrous　ethanol　has　low　crystallinity　and　homogeneous　morphology　with　bar-like　shape.　Charge-discharge　cycling,　cyclic　voltammetry　(CV)　and　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy　(EIS)　experiments　indicate　that　this　sample　has　relatively　high　initial　discharge　capacity　and　good　cycle　ability,　and　it　is　beneficial　to　the　reversible　insertion/extraction　of　Li+　ions　because　of　the　low　kinetic　resistance.　Its　discharge　capacity　reaches　270　mAh　g-1　in　the　2nd　cycle　at　0.2　C　discharge　rate　and　still　retains　210　mAh　g-1　in　the　100th　cycle　in　the　range　of　2.0-4.0　V.　©　2008　Elsevier　B.V.　All　rights　reserved.