LiMnPO₄ nanoplate grown via solid-state reaction in molten hydrocarbon for Li-ion battery cathode

Electrochemically active LiMnPO₄ nanoplates have been synthesized via a novel, single-step, solid-state reaction in molten hydrocarbon. The olivine-structured LiMnPO₄ nanoplates with a thickness of ∼50 nm appear porous and were formed as nanocrystals were assembled and grew into nanorods along the [010] direction in the (100) plane. After carbon coating, the prepared LiMnPO₄ cathode demonstrated a flat potential at 4.1 V versus Li with a specific capacity reaching as high as 168 mAh/g under a galvanostatic charging/discharging mode, along with an excellent cyclability.