IP Library Granted Patent US 11,695,163
Granted Patent B1
US 11,695,163 · App. 18/061,871 · Granted Jul 4, 2023

Hierachical structure of transition metal cyanide coordination compounds

Inventors: Dyuman Lionnel Das (San Jose, CA); Colin Deane Wessells (Menlo Park, CA); Daniel Friebel (San Carlos, CA); Ronald James Mosso (Fremont, CA); Keith Michael Wampler (Santa Monica, CA)
Assignee: Natron Energy, Inc
H01M10/24H01M4/13H01M4/625H01M4/667H01M10/054H01M4/0404H01M4/139H01M4/583H01M4/622
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,695,163
App. No.
18/061,871
Granted
Jul 4, 2023
Kind
B1
Abstract

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.

Claims (80)

1. A coordination complex, comprising:

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 alkali metal;

wherein 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, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11} is >0; and

wherein a5=0.

2. The coordination complex of claim 1 wherein D1<1 μm.

3. The coordination complex of claim 2 wherein D2 includes a particle size distribution having a 50 th percentile size >6 μm.

4. The coordination complex of claim 3 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 10 th percentile size greater than 1.5 μm.

5. The coordination complex of claim 4 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 90 th percentile size greater than 7.5 μm.

6. The coordination complex of claim 1 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area >2 m 2 per gram.

7. The coordination complex of claim 5 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area >2 m 2 per gram.

8. The coordination complex of claim 1 wherein said composition includes a tap density <0.9 g/cm 3 .

9. The coordination complex of claim 5 wherein said composition includes a tap density <0.9 g/cm 3 .

10. The coordination complex of claim 7 wherein said composition includes a tap density <0.9 g/cm 3 .

11. An electrically conductive structure for an electrochemical cell, comprising:

one or more conductive carbons;

one or more polymer binders;

a current collector; and

one or more TMCCC;

wherein at least one of said conductive carbons include nanoparticulate carbons;

wherein said current collector includes a metal foil;

wherein said metal foil includes a surface coating including a carbon material;

wherein said polymer binder include functionalized SEBS binders;

wherein said TMCCC include:

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;

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 alkali metal;

wherein R represents a metal cation optionally including one or more of Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ca, and 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, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11} is >0; and

wherein a4>0; and

wherein a5=0; and

wherein 0.25 μm<D1<1 μm.

12. An electrochemical cell, comprising:

a cell stack having a liquid electrolyte, an anode electrode, a separator, and a cathode electrode, said electrodes electrochemically communicated with said liquid electrolyte; and

wherein said liquid electrolyte includes a polar organic solvent combined with an alkali metal salt;

wherein said separator includes polymer membranes;

wherein said anode electrode includes a TMCCC;

wherein said anode electrode includes a conductive carbon;

wherein said cathode electrode includes a TMCCC;

wherein said TMCCC further comprises:

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 alkali metal;

wherein 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, a6, a7, a8, a9, a10, a11} is >0; and

wherein a4>0; and

wherein a5=0; and

wherein 0.25 μm<D1<1 μm.

13. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said cell stack includes one or more additional anode, cathode or reference conductive structures, and combinations thereof.

14. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said electrolyte includes one or more nitriles.

15. The electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein said one or more nitriles are selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile and succinonitrile.

16. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said liquid electrolyte includes a combination of one or more cyclic carbonates with one or more linear carbonates.

17. The electrochemical cell of claim 16 wherein said one or more cyclic carbonates are selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate and wherein said one or more linear carbonates are selected from the group consisting of dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethyl methyl carbonate.

18. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said polymer membrane includes a surface coating including nanoparticulate alumina and boehmite.

19. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 configured as a hybrid capacitor wherein said anode electrode is configured as a capacitive electrode.

20. The electrochemical cell of claim 12 wherein said electrolyte includes one or more nitriles; wherein said one or more nitriles are selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile and succinonitrile; wherein said liquid electrolyte includes a combination of one or more cyclic carbonates with one or more linear carbonates; wherein said one or more cyclic carbonates are selected from the group consisting of ethylene carbonate and propylene carbonate and wherein said one or more linear carbonates are selected from the group consisting of dimethyl carbonate, diethyl carbonate, and ethyl methyl carbonate; and wherein said polymer membrane includes a surface coating including nanoparticulate alumina and boehmite.

Assignments (8)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 10, 2025
From: NATRON (ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREDITORS), LLC
To: MERCURIA INVESTMENTS US, INC.
Reel/Frame 072829/0132 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 8, 2025
From: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
To: NATRON (ASSIGNMENT FOR THE BENEFIT OF CREDITORS), LLC
Reel/Frame 072836/0466 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jun 3, 2025
From: NATRON INTERMEDIATE, INC.; NATRON HOLDINGS, INC.; NATRON ENERGY, INC.
To: MERCURIA INVESTMENTS US, INC.
Reel/Frame 071480/0329 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2025
From: MERCURIA INVESTMENTS US, INC.
To: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 070705/0013 →
RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 26, 2024
From: NANODIMENSION III, L.P.; NANODIMENSION IV, L.P.; ND CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND I, L.P.; THE EIGER TRUST
To: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 069450/0867 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 21, 2024
From: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
To: MERCURIA INVESTMENTS US, INC.
Reel/Frame 068748/0393 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Aug 8, 2024
From: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
To: NANODIMENSION III, L.P.; NANODIMENSION IV, L.P.; ND CAPITAL OPPORTUNITY FUND I, L.P.; THE EIGER TRUST
Reel/Frame 068520/0081 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 5, 2022
From: DAS, DYUMAN LIONNEL, MR.; WESSELLS, COLIN DEANE, DR..; FRIEBEL, DANIEL, DR.; MOSSO, RONALD JAMES, MR.; WAMPLER, KEITH MICHAEL, MR.
To: NATRON ENERGY, INC.
Reel/Frame 061981/0541 →