Under sulfur's spell

Rauchfuss, Thomas B.

doi:10.1038/nchem.1100

Cited by 39 publications

(38 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…3,4 Moreover, elemental sulfur is nowadays a cheap and available material because it is relatively abundant in nature and appears also as a byproduct of the petroleum refining industry. As consequence, several new technological applications of elemental sulfur are being considered, namely the synthesis of different kinds of advanced materials, 19,20 including improved cathodes for batteries (besides Li-S, Na-S batteries are also being investigated due to the abundance of both latter materials 21 ) 16Li 1 1 16e 2 1 S 8 ! 8Li 2 S…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical activity of sulfur networks synthesized through RAFT polymerization

Almeida

Costa

Kadhirvel

et al. 2016

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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Novel results concerning the inverse vulcanization of sulfur using reversible addition-fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization are here reported. It is shown that RAFT polymerization can be used to carry out this cross-linking process, with the additional possibility to extend the reaction time from a few minutes as with classical free radical polymerization (FRP) to several hours. Higher control on viscosity and processability of the synthesized networks, as well as, the implementation of semibatch feed policies during cross-linking are important advantages of the RAFT process here explored comparatively to the FRP inverse vulcanization. Using cyclic voltammetry, it was assessed the electrochemical activity of the synthesized sulfur-rich polymer networks. It is shown that the fundamental electrochemical activity of the elemental sulfur was preserved in the produced materials. Testing of electrochemical cells assembled with lithium in the anode and different sulfur based materials in the cathode, including the synthesized RAFT networks, is also shown. The results here presented highlight the new opportunities introduced by reversible-deactivation radical polymerization mechanisms on the control of the synthesis process and in the design of such advanced materials and show also that many potential derivatizing possibilities can be achieved.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrochemical activity of sulfur networks synthesized through RAFT polymerization

Almeida

Costa

Kadhirvel

et al. 2016

J of Applied Polymer Sci

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show abstract

“…[5,6] Further heating causes the viscosity to increase while its color darkens from yellow to orange and eventually to red. [6,7] It should be noted that even the color changes of sulfur have been ap oint of mystery and debate,w ith Meyer contending that polymeric sulfur is actually yellow,not red, in appearance when quenched as at hin film at 200 8 8C. [5] Upon cooling, these transitions occur in reverse,with the amorphous,r ed, solid-like polymer ultimately turning back into an orthorhombic yellow solid at low temperatures.…”

Section: Abrief History Of Sulfurmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[6,7] It should be noted that even the color changes of sulfur have been ap oint of mystery and debate,w ith Meyer contending that polymeric sulfur is actually yellow,not red, in appearance when quenched as at hin film at 200 8 8C. [7] In fact, it was not until the 18th Century chemist Antoine Lavoisier began his work with sulfur that it was no longer considered ac ompound and was finally recognized as an element. [8] Even with its unique temperature-dependent phases, elemental sulfur is generally benign.…”

Section: Abrief History Of Sulfurmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is estimated that more than 60 million tons of sulfur are produced every year. [7] Thus,sulfur has become am ajor asset in modern polymer chemistry and materials science,w hile also becoming af ocal point in research on alternative power sources.T his Review will cover several of the major ways in which sulfur is currently being utilized in research, including vulcanization, rechargeable batteries,a nd thiol coupling reactions. [7] Thus,sulfur has become am ajor asset in modern polymer chemistry and materials science,w hile also becoming af ocal point in research on alternative power sources.T his Review will cover several of the major ways in which sulfur is currently being utilized in research, including vulcanization, rechargeable batteries,a nd thiol coupling reactions.…”

Section: Abrief History Of Sulfurmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sulfur and Its Role In Modern Materials Science

2016

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Although well-known and studied for centuries, sulfur continues to be at the center of an extensive array of scientific research topics. As one of the most abundant elements in the Universe, a major by-product of oil refinery processes, and as a common reaction site within biological systems, research involving sulfur is both broad in scope and incredibly important to our daily lives. Indeed, there has been renewed interest in sulfur-based reactions in just the past ten years. Sulfur research spans the spectrum of topics within the physical sciences including research on improving energy efficiency, environmentally friendly uses for oil refinery waste products, development of polymers with unique optical and mechanical properties, and materials produced for biological applications. This Review focuses on some of the latest exciting ways in which sulfur and sulfur-based reactions are being utilized to produce materials for application in energy, environmental, and other practical areas.

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“…Apart from high capacity, sulfur is earth abundant and is expected to result in a much cheaper batteries compared to the prevalent lithium‐ion batteries (LiBs). Despite the advantages associated with S‐cathode, the Li−S battery has several drawbacks and has not yet attained the breakthrough which would lead to widespread mass scale industrial production and usage ,,. During discharge, various higher and lower order polysulfides are formed that eventually convert to Li 2 S. The higher order polysulfides Li 2 S x (8≥x>4) which are soluble in the ether based solvents shuttle to the Li anode and get reduced to Li 2 S and Li 2 S 2 ,.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Extremely High Surface Area Mesoporous-Microporous-Networked Pillared Carbon for High Stability Li-S and Intermediate Temperature Na-S Batteries

et al. 2017

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A high surface area porous carbon synthesized using a sacrificial‐template assisted synthesis protocol, is demonstrated here as a host for the confinement of sulfur for use in Li−S and intermediate temperature (25‐70 °C) Na−S rechargeable batteries. The hierarchical porous pillared carbon host, comprising of an intricate network of mesopores and micropores provide a landscape of sites with varying strength of interaction with sulfur. Thus, the amount of sulfur (and associated polysulfides) inside the carbon host is predetermined by the host structural characteristics rather than by the loading protocol. The mesoporous‐microporous carbon led to sulfur content in excess of 70%. While the bulk of S (and polysulfides) are stored inside the mesopores of the carbon host, the micropore apart from sulfur storage strongly contributes towards the modulation of sulfur flux during charge‐discharge cycling. The S−C cathode exhibited remarkable cycling and rate capability with Li and also against Na at intermediate temperature (25‐70 °C). This result is a paradigm shift from the conventional Na−S electrochemistry which is known to efficiently work only at elevated temperatures, in the temperature range starting from excess of 100 °C to 300 °C.

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Under sulfur's spell

Cited by 39 publications

References 3 publications

Electrochemical activity of sulfur networks synthesized through RAFT polymerization

Electrochemical activity of sulfur networks synthesized through RAFT polymerization

Sulfur and Its Role In Modern Materials Science

An Extremely High Surface Area Mesoporous-Microporous-Networked Pillared Carbon for High Stability Li-S and Intermediate Temperature Na-S Batteries

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