Li3V2(PO4)(3), Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C and Li3V2(PO4)(3)/(Ag + C) composites as cathodes for Li ion batteries are synthesized by carbon-thermal reduction (CTR) method and chemical plating reactions. The microstructure and morphology of the compounds are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Li3V2(PO4)(3)/(Ag + C) particles are 0.5-1 mu m in diameters. As compared to Li3V2(PO4)(3), Li3V2(PO4)(3)/C, the Li3V2(PO4)(3)/(Ag + C) composite cathode exhibits high discharge capacity, good cycle performance (140.5 mAhg(-1) at 50th cycle at 1 C, 97.3% of initial discharge capacity) and rate behavior (120.5 mAh g(-1) for initial discharge at 5 C) for the fully delithiated (3.0-4.8 V) state. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurements show that the carbon and silver co-modification decreases the charge transfer resistance of Li3V2(PO4)(3)/(Ag + C) cathode, and improves the conductivity and boosts the electrochemical performance of the electrode. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.