Method for making lithium metal phosphates

A method for making lithium metal phosphate of formula LiMPO4, where M is one or more transition metals comprising the steps of: a) forming a mixture comprising a source of the one or more transition metals, a source of phosphorus, a source of lithium and a surfactant; b) drying the mixture from step (a) to form a powder; and c) thermally treating the powder from step (b) to form lithium metal phosphate. The mixture of step (b) may be a slurry. The particles may be coated with carbon and the final particles may have a mean particle size of less than 10 microns and a preferred mean particle size of 5-8 microns.