Carbon-coated lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4/C) was hydrothermally synthesized from commercial LiOH, FeSO4 and H3PO4 as raw materials and glucose as carbon precursor in aqueous solution at 180 degrees C for 6h followed by being fired at 750 degrees C for 6h. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and constant current charge-discharge cycling test. The results show that the synthesized powders are in situ coated with carbon precursor produced from glucose. At ambient temperature (25 +/-2 degrees C), the specific discharge capacities are 154 mAh g(-1) at 0.2 C and 136 mAh g(-1) at 5 C rate, and the cycling capacity retention rate reaches 98% over 90 cycles. The excellent electrochemical performance can be correlated with the in situ formation of carbon precursor/carbon, thus leading to the even distribution of carbon and the enhancement of conductibility of individual grains. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.