Abstract: Nanobeam precursor was prepared by solvothermal reaction at 200 ℃ with zinc acetate, manganese acetate and ammonium bicarbonate as raw materials and seignette salt as structure guide agent. The optimal addition amount of seignette salt and solvothermal reaction time were determined according to the shape of the precursor. The ZnMn₂O₄ nanobeams for cathode of lithium ion batteries were prepared by calcining the precursors at 250, 350 ℃ for 2 h. The microstructure and electrochemical performance of the ZnMn₂O₄ nanobeams were stdied. The results show that one-dimensional nanobeams with intact structure could be obtained when the solvothermal time was 12 h and the seignette salt addition amount was 1 mmol. The ZnMn₂O₄ nanobeams could be obtained at the two calcining temperatures, but the ZnMn₂O₄ nanobeams obtained at 350 ℃ showed better electrochemical performance; the specific capacity of ZnMn₂O₄ nanobeams could still be maintained at 892 mA·h·g^-1 after 60 cycles at current density of 100 mA·g^-1. Under the high current density of 2 A·g^-1, the specific capacity could still reach 416.2 mA·h·g^-1.