The porous platelike LiFePO4/C particles were synthesized through an in situ hydrothermal process. Citric acid or glucose was added as carbon source to conduct carbon coating and ascorbic acid served as reducing agent. The material synthesized with citric acid shows the particle size of 2-3 mu m with a refined carbon coating layer and delivers a discharge capability of 152.7 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C while the material prepared with glucose demonstrates an average size of about 2 pm with a thin carbon coating layer and exhibits a discharge capacity of 153.4 mAh g(-1) at 0.1 C. The latter has a smaller voltage difference between the charge and discharge plateaus. Both materials have negligible capability fading at 0.1 C after 50 cycles, possessing excellent cycle stability. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.