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.
2 . An electrochemical cell, comprising:
an electrochemically active material including an agglomerated TMCCC;
a conductive material; and
wherein said electrochemically active material is bound 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.
3 . The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein said agglomerated TMCCC includes a sodium-ion energy storage configuration.
4 . The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein D1<1 μm.
5 . The electrochemical cell of claim 4 wherein D2 includes a particle size distribution having a 50 th percentile size>6 μm.
6 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 10 th percentile size greater than 1.5 μm.
7 . The electrochemical cell of claim 6 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 90 th percentile size greater than 7.5 μm.
8 . The electrochemical cell of claim 2 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
9 . The electrochemical of cell claim 7 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
10 . The electrochemical cell of claim 9 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
11 . The electrochemical cell of claim 5 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
12 . The electrochemical cell of claim 7 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
13 . The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein D1<1 μm.
14 . The electrochemical cell of claim 13 wherein D2 includes a particle size distribution having a 50 th percentile size>6 μm.
15 . The electrochemical cell of claim 14 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 10 th percentile size greater than 1.5 μm.
16 . The electrochemical cell of claim 15 wherein said particle size distribution D2 includes a 90 th percentile size greater than 7.5 μm.
17 . The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
18 . The electrochemical of cell claim 16 wherein said composition includes a specific surface area>2 m 2 per gram.
19 . The electrochemical cell of claim 3 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
20 . The electrochemical cell of claim 16 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .
21 . The electrochemical cell of claim 18 wherein said composition includes a tap density<0.9 g/cm 3 .