Lamellar nanostructured lithium iron phosphate (L alpha-LFP) was synthesized using anion surfactant sodium dodecyl sulphonate (SDS) as supermolecular template in water-ethanol media at 388K under self-generated pressure. FeSO4, (NH4)(2)HPO4 and LiOH were used as Fe, P and Li sources, respectively. The inorganic phase was analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The morphology and the lamellar nanostructure were observed by field emitting scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The results showed that the synthesized L alpha-LFP presents not only the ordered lamellar microstructure accumulated by 20-40-nm thick LFP layers, but also the consequent self-assembled blocky particles of 0.5-1 mu m. In contrast, template free LFP (TF-LFP) show a flake-shaped and mess-orientated microstructure. As a soft template, SDS played the roles of inducing the lamellar nanostructure, purifying the inorganic phase and decreasing the synthesis temperature. (C) 2010 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.