Hydrothermal and solvothermal process towards development of LiMPO ₄ (M = Fe, Mn) nanomaterials for lithium-ion batteries

Positive electrodes such as LiFePO ₄ and LiMnPO ₄ nanomaterials with olivine structures are considered as most efficient cathode materials for application in lithium ion batteries. Recently, several methods have been proposed for the preparation of lithium metal phosphates as cathodes for lithium ion batteries and their electrochemical performances have been investigated. Over the last 20 years, several synthetic methods have been proposed for lithium metal phosphate nanomaterials. In this review, hydrothermal and solvothermal syntheses of LiFePO ₄ and LiMnPO ₄ nanomaterials at low and high temperatures are discussed, including microwave-hydrothermal and microwave-solvothermal methods. The effect of particle size and particle morphology on the electrochemical properties of LiFePO ₄ and LiMnPO ₄ cathode materials are also discussed. In addition, the recently emerged supercritical solvothermal and supercritical hydrothermal syntheses of LiFePO ₄ and LiMnPO ₄ nanomaterials and their electrochemical property also been addresse.