Controlled synthesis of double-wall a-FePO4 nanotubes and their LIB cathode properties.

Double-wall amorphous FePO4 nanotubes are prepared by an oil-phase chemical route. The inward diffusion of vacancies and outward diffusion of ions through passivation layers result in double-wall nanotubes with thin walls. Such a process can be extended to prepare hollow polydedral nanocrystals and hollow ellipsoids. The double-wall FePO4 nanotubes show interesting cathode performance in Li ion batteries.