Orthorhombic LiMnO 2 nanoparticles and LiMnO 2 nanorods have been synthesized by hydrothermal methods. LiMnO 2 nanoparticles were synthesized by simple one-step hydrothermal method. To obtain rod-like LiMnO 2 , -MnOOH nanorods were fi rst synthesized and then the H + ions were completely replaced by Li + resulting in LiMnO 2 nanorods. Their electrochemical performances were thoroughly investigated by galvanostatic tests. Although the LiMnO 2 nanoparticles have smaller size than LiMnO 2 nanorods, the latter exhibited higher discharge capacity and better cyclability. For example, the discharge capacities of LiMnO 2 nanorods reached 200 mA·h/g over many cycles and remained above 180 mA·h/g after 30 cycles. However, the maximum capacity of LiMnO 2 nanoparticles was only 170 mA·h/g and quickly decreased to 110 mA·h/g after 30 cycles. Nanorods with one-dimensional electronic pathways favor the transport of electrons along the length direction and accommodate volume changes resulting from charge/discharge processes. Thus the morphology of LiMnO 2 may play an important role in electrochemical performance.