LiFePO4 powders were synthesized under several different conditions (solid state reactions at high temperatures, co-precipitation in aqueous medium, hydrothermal synthesis or mechanochemical activation). The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), chemical titration and their electrochemical performance were investigated in terms of cycling behavior. We also report, in this work, the benefit of introducing an electronic conductor precursor (typically a sucrose) during or after the synthesis in order to overcome the poor charge transfer associated with the lithium iron phosphate. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.