Hierachical structure of transition metal cyanide coordination compounds
A system and method for implementing and manufacturing a hierarchy system for use with a TMCCC-containing electrically-conductive structure (e.g., an electrode) as well as methods for use and manufacturing of such structures and electrochemical cells including these devices. Structures and methods include a coordination complex having L x M y N z Ti a1 V a2 Cr a3 Mn a4 Fe a5 Co a6 Ni a7 Cu a8 Zn a9 Ca a10 Mg a11 [R(CN) 6 ] b (H 2 O) c . The method includes binding electrochemically active material to produce a hierarchical structure, the hierarchical structure having a plurality of primary crystallites having a size D1, the plurality of these primary crystallites agglomerated into a set of agglomerates each agglomerate having a size D2>D1.
1. A method manufacturing an electrically conductive structure for an electrochemical cell, comprising the steps of:
a) providing an electrochemically active material including an agglomerated TMCCC;
b) providing a conductive material; and
c) binding said electrochemically active material to said conductive material producing a hierarchical structure, and wherein said hierarchical structure includes a plurality of primary crystallites having a size D1, and in which said plurality of primary crystallites are agglomerated into a set of agglomerates each agglomerate having a size D2>D1;
wherein said agglomerated TMCCC includes:
a composition of
L x M y N z Ti a1 V a2 Cr a3 Mn a4 Fe a5 CO a6 Ni a7 Cu a8 Zn a9 Ca a10 Mg a11 [R(CN) 6 ] b (H 2 O) c ; and
a plurality of particles of said composition; and
wherein said plurality of particles include a hierarchical structure, and
wherein said hierarchical structure includes a plurality of primary crystallites having a size D1, and in which said plurality of primary crystallites are agglomerated into a set of agglomerates each agglomerate having a size D2>D1;
wherein each of L, M and N represents an alkaline metal;
wherein each of P, Q, and R represents a metal cation optionally including one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ca, Mg, and the like;
wherein 0≤x≤2;
wherein 0≤y≤x;
wherein 0≤z≤x;
wherein 0<b≤1;
wherein 0<c;
wherein for each element of the set {a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11}, 0≤{a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11}≤1; and
wherein at least one of {a1, a2, a3, a4, a5, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11} is >0.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein wherein D1<1 μm.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein D2 includes a particle size distribution having a 50 th percentile size>6 μm.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 10 th percentile size greater than 1.5 μm.
5. The method of claim 4 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 90 th percentile size greater than 7.5 μm.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
7. The method of claim 5 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
9. The method of claim 5 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
10. The method of claim 7 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .