Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs)
Custom PBA Materials for Battery, Pharmaceutical, and Specialty Applications
Prussian Blue Analogues, or PBAs, are a family of coordination compounds having an open framework structure, tunable metal composition, and the ability to host ions within their lattice. Their unique porous crystalline structure makes them useful across multiple applications, including sodium-ion battery cathode materials, ion exchange systems, pigments, sensors, catalysts, and pharmaceutical applications.
Macsen Energy’s work with PBAs is built on the strong inorganic and coordination chemistry foundation of Macsen Labs Group. With experience in Prussian Blue chemistry and the development of battery-grade Prussian White, we support custom development of PBA materials for partners seeking tailored compositions, controlled characteristics, and application-specific material properties.
What are PBAs?
Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) are materials structurally related to Prussian Blue. They are formed through a network of metal centers connected by cyanide bridges, creating an open three-dimensional framework. This framework can accommodate alkali metal ions such as sodium, making PBAs especially relevant for sodium-ion battery applications.
One of the key advantages of PBAs is their chemical flexibility. By changing the metal centers, sodium content, crystallinity, particle size, and moisture profile, their properties can be tuned for specific technical requirements. This makes PBAs a highly adaptable material for both energy storage and non-battery applications.
Applications of PBAs
PBAs are used and studied across a wide range of industries because of their porous structure, redox activity, ion-exchange capability, and compositional flexibility.
1
Sodium-Ion Battery Materials
PBAs are among the most promising cathode material families for sodium-ion batteries. Their open framework structure enables reversible sodium-ion insertion and extraction during charge-discharge cycling, while transition metal redox chemistry enables energy storage and release. Prussian White, the sodium-rich PBA, is one of the most important cathode materials in this family.
2
Medical and Radiological Applications
Prussian Blue is approved by the U.S. FDA as a radiation decorporation agent for treating cesium-137 and thallium poisoning, owing to its ability to bind radioactive ions in the gastrointestinal tract
3
Bioimaging and Drug Delivery
Prussian Blue nanoparticles are used as MRI contrast agents, in photothermal therapy, and as drug carriers because of their optical and magnetic properties.
4
Catalysis and Sensors
The redox-active metal centers and stable coordination framework of PBAs makes them an excellent electrocatalyst and biosensor for detecting gases, biomolecules, and environmental toxins.
5
Pigments and Coatings
Roughly 120,000 tonnes of Prussian Blue is produced annually for use in inks, textiles, and coatings, making it one of the most commercially familiar inorganic compounds.
6
Adsorption and Filtration
The open framework and zeolite-like porosity of PBAs allow efficient removal of heavy metals and pollutants, supporting environmental remediation.
7
Precision Engineering
In mechanical alignment, Prussian Blue paste is used to mark contact points for high-precision surface fitting.
8
Rare Earth Metal Extraction
Specially engineered Prussian Blue Analogues can be used to extract selective metals through an electrochemical process.
Macsen’s offering of custom PBAs
Prussian White Cathode Material
Prussian White is a sodium-rich Prussian Blue Analogue and one of the most promising cathode active materials for sodium-ion batteries. It enables reversible sodium-ion movement through its open framework structure and supports stable Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ redox chemistry during charge-discharge cycling.
Macsen Energy’s core focus is the development of battery-grade Prussian White cathode material for sodium-ion batteries. Our proprietary synthesis approach is designed to improve material crystallinity, sodium content, air stability, and electrochemical consistency while supporting future industrial-scale production.
We are currently focused on iron-based Prussian White chemistry. We are also open to exploring other PBA-based cathode systems, including manganese-based variants, depending on application and partner requirements.
Click here for a complete overview of Prussian White.
Prussian Blue (as an API)
Prussian Blue is a coordination compound chemically known as ferric ferrocyanide or ferric hexacyanoferrate, consisting of iron cations, cyanide anions, and water, and is produced when the oxidation of ferrous ferrocyanide salts occurs. It is used as an oral decorporation agent to treat internal contamination caused by radioactive cesium isotopes and thallium poisoning, and is also listed on the World Health Organization’s List of Essential Medicines.
Click here for a complete overview of Prussian Blue.
Looking for Custom PBA Development?
Whether you are evaluating Prussian White for sodium-ion batteries or exploring customized Prussian Blue Analogues for other technical applications, Macsen Energy can support early-stage development discussions, material synthesis, and scale-up.