LiFePO4/C composite nanobelts were synthesized by calcination of the [LiOH + Fe(NO3)(3) + H3PO4]/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) electrospun nanobelts. PVP was used as the electrospinning template and carbon source. During the calcination, [LiOH + Fe(NO3)(3) + H3PO4] were transformed to lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) and PVP was decomposed into carbon. The morphology and properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area analysis, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and galvanostatic charge-discharge measurements. The results indicate that the mean width of LiFePO4/C composite nanobelts is 2.50 +/- A 0.33 mu m, the average thickness is about 162 nm and the BET specific surface area is 19.4 m(2) g(-1). The addition of carbon does not affect the structure of LiFePO4, but improves its electrochemical performances. At the current density of 0.2 C, the initial discharge capacity of LiFePO4/C electrode is 123.38 mAh g(-1) and there is no obvious capacity fading after 50 cycles. The formation mechanism of LiFePO4/C composite nanobelts was also proposed.