The Cl-doped Li3V2(PO4)3/C compounds were prepared by a microwave assisted sol–gel method employing CH3COO- Li • 2H2O, NH4VO3, NH4H2PO4 and NH4Cl as raw materials in the molar ratio of 3.1:2:2.9:0.1. Citric acid was used here not only as a chelating reagent but also as a source of carbon to coat the materials with carbon layer. The mol ratio citric acid: vanadium¼ 2:1 was selected. An over-dosed usage of Li salt is to compensate any Li loss during the high temperature synthesis [27]. A typical synthetic procedure consisted of first dissolving citric acid and NH4VO3 in deionized water with magnetic stirring at 80 1C. After a clear blue solution formed, a mixture of CH3COOLi • 2H2O, NH4H2PO4 and NH4Cl was added to the solution while stirring for 5 h. After evaporating the water at 80 1C, the blue solution became a gel. The resulting gel was put into a vacuum drying oven at 120 1C for 10 h to eliminate the water adequately. Finally, the resulting powder was reground and placed in a microwave oven (Makewave co., Ltd, 800 W) run at 350 W power for 20 min to yield the final LVP or Cl doped LVP products.