Novel morphology-controlled synthesis of homogeneous LiFePO4 for Li-ion batteries using an organic phosphate source

Homogeneous LiFePO4 nanoplates or hollow spheres can be selectively synthesized with a phosphate ester just by changing the mixing sequence in a hydrothermal synthetic process. When the iron source was mixed first, nanoplates were formed, and mixing the lithium source first resulted in hollow spheres. Both structures performed well as cathode materials in Li-ion batteries.