LiMg0.03Mn0.97V0.01P0.99O　4/C　composite　cathode　materials　for　lithium　ion　battery　were　synthesised　by　sol-gel　method　with　following　heat　treatment　in　the　air.　The　crystal　structure　and　the　electrochemical　performances　were　characterised　by　X-ray　diffraction,　field　emission　scanning　electron　microscopy,　Raman　spectra,　X-ray　photoelectron　spectroscopy,　electrochemical　impedance　spectroscopy　and　charge/discharge　tests.　The　effects　of　chelating　agent　and　carbon　source　on　the　performances　of　the　cathode　materials　were　investigated.　The　results　demonstrated　that　the　cathode　using　acetylene　black　and　sucrose　as　mixed　carbon　source　and　citric　acid　as　chelating　agent　achieved　the　highest　discharge　capacity　of　143.3　mA　h　g-1　at　the　discharge　current　of　1　μA　cm-2　between　2.8　and　4.5　V　at　room　temperature.　©　W.　S.　Maney　&　Son　Ltd.　2014.