A new type of nano-structured LiFePO4 particles were prepared exhibiting enhanced apparent lithium ion diffusion dynamics. The nano-structured LiFePO4 particles possess nano-layered morphology and were converted hydrothermally from the nano-layered templates composed of mainly ferrous metaphosphate and graphitic carbon. And the nano-layered templates were prepared by pyrolysis conversion of the nano-layered ferrous phenylphosphonate templates, or the raw nano-layered templates. Though the nano-layered LiFePO4 particles possess characteristics of nanostructural LiFePO4, the overall dimensions are still in micro-size and the tap density is about 1.36g cm(-3) comparable to the micro-sized LiFePO4 particles. The apparent lithium ion diffusion coefficients are 1.5 x 10(-11) and 3.1 x 10(-13) cm(2) s(-1) evaluated using the cyclic voltammetry and electrical impedance spectroscopy, respectively. In addition, the organic moiety from the raw nano-layered templates was converted into tiny carbon particles with abundance of ordered graphitic structure well dispersed in the nano-layered LiFePO4 particles: and the nano-layered LiFePO4 particles possess an electronic conductivity as high as 3.28 mS cm(-1). (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.