Li2FeSiO4-based materials have attracted a great deal of interest as cathodes for lithium ion batteries for its excellent thermal stability and good cycling ability. Nanoporous Li2FeSiO4/C composites with varying Fe stoichiometry were synthesized by a PVA-assisted sol-gel method. Different gel formation processes were used to control morphology and pore size distribution. The pore size distribution was controlled by adjusting the parameters of the gel ageing process, the carbon content and phase purity was controlled by adjusting the starch content, and the amount of secondary phases was controlled by adjusting the Fe stoichiometry. The electrochemical properties of the Li2FeSiO4/C composite were assessed using coin cells at 24 degrees C, and the optimized material showed an initial discharge capacity of 163 mAh g(-1) at a discharge rate of C/16 (C = 160 mA g(-1)) and a high capacity retention of 96% after 200 cycles at a discharge rate of 1 C. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.