NOVELTY - Preparation of crystalline lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) powder, involves: (a) providing a water-based mixture having at a pH of 6 - 10, containing a water-miscible boiling point elevation additive, and Li(I), Fe(II) and P(V) as precursor components; (b) heating the water-based mixture to a temperature less than or equal to its boiling point at atmospheric pressure, to precipitate the LiFePO4 powder.    USE - For preparation of crystalline (LiFePO4) powder; useful as an electrode material (such as for preparation of an electrode mix) in battery, such as lithium insertion-type electrode for secondary lithium batteries (claimed), useful for consumer electronics.    ADVANTAGE - The method results in crystalline nanomeric carbon-free olivine-type LiFePO4 powder, having enhanced electrochemical properties. The powder is prepared by direct precipitation method and not by physical mixing as in the prior art. The LiFePO4 powder has reduced primary particle size, which shortens Li+1 diffusion lengths and ohmic pump; and a narrow particle size distribution, which ensures homogeneous current distribution in electrode and achieves better battery performance i.e. high power efficiency and a long cycle life. The powder has maximum particle size of below 500 nm; and a mono-modal particle size distribution, with the ratio (d90 - d10)/d50 of (less than 0.8, preferably less than 0.65, especially less than 0.5).    DETAILED DESCRIPTION - INDEPENDENT CLAIMS are included for the following:    (1) a carbon-free crystalline LiFePO4 powder (P1) for use as electrode material in a battery, comprising: a particle size distribution with an average particle size d50 of above 50 - below 200 nm;    (2) method (M) for use of the LiFePO4 powder (P1) for manufacture of a lithium insertion-type electrode, involving: mixing the powder (P1) with a conductive carbon-bearing additive;    (3) an electrode mix comprising: for method (M);    (4) an electrode mix (M1) for secondary lithium-batteries with non-aqueous liquid electrolyte, which comprises LiFePO4 (greater than or equal to90 wt.%) comprising: a reversible capacity (greater than or equal to80, preferably greater than or equal to85)% of the theoretical capacity, when used as an active component in a cathode, which is cycled between 2.7 - 4.15 V versus Li+/Li at a discharge rate of 1 - 25degreesC;    (5) an electrode mix (M2) for secondary lithium-batteries with non-aqueous gel-like polymer electrolyte, which comprises LiFePO4 (greater than or equal to80 wt.%), comprising: a reversible capacity (greater than or equal to80, preferably greater than or equal to85)% of the theoretical capacity, when used as an active component in a cathode, which is cycled between 2.7 - 4.15 V versus Li+/Li at a discharge rate of 1 - 25degreesC; and    (6) an electrode mix (M3) for secondary lithium-batteries with non-aqueous dry polymer electrolyte, which comprises LiFePO4 (greater than or equal to56 wt.%), comprising: a reversible capacity (greater than or equal to80%, preferably greater than or equal to85)% of the theoretical capacity, when used as an active component in a cathode, which is cycled between 2.7 - 4.15 V versus Li+/Li at a discharge rate of 1 - 25degreesC.