Abstract: A system and method for controlling particle morphology of transition metal coordination compounds (TMCC). Synthesis of TMCC using one of several chelating agents having carboxylate chemical groups. These carboxylate groups bind to copper during the synthesis of the CuHCF TMCC materials, resulting in controlled particle growth, rather than rapid formation of many small nanoparticles as is the case without any chelating agent present. The materials produced using chelating agents of these embodiments such as these are composed of larger particles, making them easier to process into battery electrodes via standard methods such as slurry mixing and coating. The resulting electrodes retain the good electrochemical cycling performance of the control material synthesized without a chelating agent.