Graphene oxide assisted solvothermal synthesis of LiMnPO4 naonplates cathode materials for lithium ion batteries

LiMnPO4 nanoplates in a size of 30-70 nm were successfully obtained via a graphene oxide (GO) assisted solvothermal synthesis method. The particle size reduction is ascribed to a preferential nucleation of LiMnPO4 on the GO sheets. The particle size is critically dependent on the added GO content, ranging from 300 nm, 200 nm to 50 nm, when the GO content increase from 5/30, 10/30, to 20/30 mg/cm-3. LiMnPO4 nanoplates were further carbon-coated at 600 °C. Carbon-coated LiMnPO4 (LiMnPO4/C) with a particle size of 30-70 nm displays a specific capacity of 140 mA h g-1 at C/10 and 85 mA h g-1 at 1C rate.