The　Li3V2(PO4)3/C　composite　(LVP)　including　nanorods　and　irregular　solids　were　successfully　prepared　by　a　sol-gel　method.　The　influences　of　different　precursors　on　the　LVP　cathode　materials　were　investigated　by　using　X-ray　diffraction　(XRD),　scanning　electron　microscopy　(SEM),　transmission　electron　microscopy　(TEM),　particle　size　distribution　measurement　and　electrochemical　methods.　The　LVP/C　electrodes　present　good　rate　capability　and　excellent　cyclic　performance　when　they　cycle　in　the　range　of　3.0-4.3　V.　The　LVP1/C　composite　prepared　by　NH4H　2PO4,　LiOH,　NH4VO4　and　citric　acid　delivers　the　initial　discharge　capacity　of　109.6　mAh　g-1　at　20　C　discharge　rate　and　it　still　maintains　56.9　mAh　g-1　after　450　cycles,　with　the　discharge　capacity　retention　of　51.9%.　For　the　LVP2/C　composite　synthesized　by　LiH2PO4,　NH4VO4　and　citric　acid,　however,　the　discharge　capacities　in　the　1st　and　450th　cycles　at　20　C　discharge　rate　are　107.1　and　96.2　mAh　g-1,　respectively,　with　only　10.2%　loss.　The　excellent　rate　capacity　is　attributed　to　the　pure　phases,　nanorod　structure,　small　particles　and　uniform　carbon　coating.　©　2013　Elsevier　Ltd.