A Li2FeP2O7/Carbon (C) nanocomposite was successfully synthesized via a combination of spray pyrolysis and wet ball milling followed by annealing from a precursor solution; in which LiNO3, H3PO4 and Fe(NO3)(3)center dot 9H(2)O were stoichiometrically dissolved into distilled water. Ascorbic acid was added to the precursor solution as a reduction agent. The peaks of the Li2FeP2O7/C nanocomposite obtained by X-ray diffraction analysis were indexed to the monoclinic structure with the space group P2(1)/c. The Li2FeP2O7/C nanocomposite cathode delivered a first discharge capacity of 100 mAh g(-1) at 0.05 C, which corresponded to 91% of its theoretical capacity. After various higher discharge rates from 0.05 to 2 C in the cycle performance test, a discharge capacity of 93 mAh g(-1) was achieved at 0.05 C, which showed an excellent capacity retention (93%) after 29 cycles. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.