A highly crystalline LiFePO4/C phase was successfully synthesized by a microwave irradiation method in 4 min. SEM and particle size analysis indicate that the particle size of resulting LiFePO4/C is much smaller than that of the solid-state derived sample and that it mostly distributes in the range of 160-600 nm. Cycling tests show that the sample prepared by microwave method can deliver 150 mAh g(-1) at 17 mA g(-1) (0.1C). Further AC impedance measurements reveal that the LiFePO4 electrode can be well activated after the first cycle as reflected by the dramatic decrease in the charge transfer resistance. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.