LiFePO4/C composite was synthesized at 600 degrees C in an Ar atmosphere by a soluble starch sol assisted rheological phase method using home-made amorphous nano-FePO4 as the iron source. XRD, SEM and TEM observations show that the LiFePO4/C composite has good crystallinity, ultra. ne sphere-like particles of 100-200 nm size and in situ carbon. The synthesized LiFePO4 could inherit the morphology of FePO4 precursor. The electrochemical performance of the LiFePO4 by galvanostatic cycling studies demonstrates excellent high-rate cycle stability. The Li/LiFePO4 cell displays a high initial discharge capacity of more than 157 mAh g(-1) at 0.2C and a little discharge capacity decreases from the first to the 80th cycle (>98.3%). Remarkably, even at a high current density of 30C, the cell still presents good cycle retention. (C) 2009 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.