A novel electrode material for sodium-ion batteries (NIBs), Na3V2(PO4)(3) with a rhombohedral, Na+ superionic conductor (NASICON)-type structure, was synthesised via a solid-state carbon-thermal reduction reaction assisted by mechanochemical activation. Electron microscopy analysis showed that the synthesised Na3V2(PO4)(3) particles had an average size of 300 nm, being coated with a uniform layer of carbon 3 nm in thickness. As a cathode material, Na3V2(PO4)(3)/C exhibited an initial specific discharge capacity of 98.17 mAh g(-1) at 0.1C for potentials ranging from 2.5 to 3.8 V. This was owing to the V3+/V4+ redox couple, which corresponded to the two-phase transition between Na3V2(PO4)(3) and NaV2(PO4)(3). The cathode lost 4.92% of its discharge specific capacity after 50 cycles. As an anode material, Na3V2(PO4)(3)/C exhibited an initial specific discharge capacity of 63.2 mAh g(-1) at 0.1C for potentials ranging from 1.0 to 2.5 V. This was owing to the V2+/V3+ redox couple, which corresponded to the twophase transition between Na3V2(PO4)(3) and Na4V2(PO4)(3). The anode lost approximately 5.41% of its discharge specific capacity after 50 cycles. The three-dimensional channel structure of NaV2(PO4)(3) and the changes induced in its lattice parameters during the charge/discharge processes were simulated on the basis of density functional theory. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.