Patent ID: 7524529

Claim:
A method for preparing a Li x M y PO 4 compound having an olivine structure, the method comprising: preparing a solution containing transition metal M ions, Li + ions and PO 4 3− ions; drying the solution to form particles of a starting material; and forming the particles of the starting material into particles of the Li x M y PO 4 compound with an olivine structure in a reaction chamber, in which 0.8≦x≦1.2 and 0.8≦y≦1.2, and coating the particles of the Li x M y PO 4 compound with a carbon layer thereon, wherein the formation of the Li x M y PO 4 compound and the carbon layer on the particles of the Li x M y PO 4 compound is conducted by heating the particles of the starting material in the presence of suspended carbon particles; and wherein the suspended carbon particles are formed by heating a carbonaceous material separated from the starting material in the reaction chamber to form carbon particles which are subsequentlv suspended in the reaction chamber by a non-oxidizing carrier gas introduced into the reaction chamber and passing over the heated carbonaceous material.