LiVOPO4/carbon composite materials were prepared at a moderate temperature of 400 degrees C by oxalic acid assisted 501-gel technique and acetylene black acting as a carbon source. The as synthesized composite materials were characterized by XRD, SEM, galvanostatic charge discharge and CV measurements. When tested at 0.1 C rate for Li ion insertion properties, alpha-LiVOPO4/carbon composite material exhibits good cycle capability with an average capacity degradation of just 0.05 mAh/g per cycle. Additionally, when the various discharge rates were applied progressively for each of ten cycles, it shows excellent rate capability with initial discharge capacities of 138 mAh/g (0.1 C), 134 mAh/g (0.2 C), 108 mAh/g (0.5 C) and 83 mAh/g (1 C), respectively, indicating that carbon modification could enhance the electronic conductivity of LiVOPO4. (C) 2013 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.