The carbon coated monoclinic Li3V2(PO4)(3) (LVP/C) powder is successfully synthesized by a carbothermal reduction method using crystal sugar as the carbon source Its structure and physicochemical properties are investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD) scanning electron microscopy high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and electrochemical methods The LVP/C electrode exhibits stable reversible capacities of 203 and 102 mAh g(-1) in the potential ranges of s 0-0 0 V and 30-1 0 V versus Li+/Li recpectively It is identified that the insertion/extraction of Li+ undergoes a series of two-phase transition processes between 30 and 1 6V and a single phase procees between 1 6 and 0 0 V The ex situ XRD patterns of the electrodes at various lithiated states indica that the monoclinic structure can still be retained during charge-discharge process and the insertion/deinsertion of lithium ions occur reversibly which provides an excellent cycling stability with high energy efficiency (C) 2010 Elsevier B V All rights reserved