Partly substituted and unsubstituted Mn spinels have been synthesized at temperatures of 350-450-degrees-C. The inclusion of Cr ions in the cubic spinel structure is particularly effective in catalyzing its formation at low temperature. A spinel of composition LiMn2-xCrxO4.35 (x approximately 0.2-0.4), prepared at 350-370-degrees-C, has a defective structure of low-crystallinity and a high surface area. It can be cycled at 1 mA/cm2 (approximately C/3) with a stabilized capacity of 0.13 Ah/g. Analogous spinels prepared at 450-degrees-C, with or without Cr, have inferior performances. The Li+ diffusion coefficient in the Cr-containing spinel is higher than that of the unsubstituted material.