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.