Low-cost sorbitanlaurat is used as new carbon source to synthesize Li2FeSiO4/C by sol–gel method. Four Li2FeSiO4/C products with different carbon contents are pursued as the cathode material of lithium-ion battery. The structures and morphologies of these products are characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and transmission electron microscope. The particle size of these Li2FeSiO4 products is about 10–20nm. The product with 8.4wt% carbon delivers an initial discharge capacity of 187mAhg−1 at 0.1C. This product also exhibits good rate and cycle performances. By Raman spectroscopy, cyclic voltammogram and impedance spectroscopy, the factor which can affect the rate performance of these Li2FeSiO4/C products is analyzed.