High-performance LiMnPO4 nanorods synthesized via a facile EG-assisted solvothermal approach

Novel LiMnPO4 nanorods have been successfully synthesized via a facile solvothermal approach in a mixed solvent of ethylene glycol (EG) and water (11 : 1, vol.). The as-prepared LiMnPO4 sample is of single crystalline and has a rod-like morphology with a small size especially a thin thickness of less than 50 nm along the [010] direction, which is expected to favour faster lithium-ion extraction/insertion reactions. Detailed investigations indicate that EG plays an important role in the formation of the LiMnPO4 nanorods by effectively regulating the morphology, size, and crystal orientation. Benefiting from the special rod-like morphology and the uniform thin carbon coating, the LiMnPO4/C composite nanorods exhibit a high reversible capacity of 168 mA h g(-1) and 110 mA h g(-1) at 0.05 C and 10 C, respectively, and a remarkable stable capacity retention of similar to 94.5% after 100 cycles at 0.5 C.