Sulfur‐Based Polymer Composites from Vegetable Oils and Elemental Sulfur: A Sustainable Active Material for Li–S Batteries. Issue 1 (20th September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hoefling, Alexander; Lee, Young Joo; Theato, Patrick
• Is Part Of: Macromolecular chemistry and physics. Volume 218:Issue 1(2017:Jan.)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2016-09-20
• Subjects: biodegradable -- electrochemistry -- Li–S battery -- polysulfides -- renewable resources; Polymers -- Periodicals; Polymerization -- Periodicals; Synthetic products -- Periodicals; Macromolecules -- Periodicals; 547.7
• DOI: 10.1002/macp.201600303
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1022-1352

Abstract

Abstract : A simple and environmentally friendly method for the preparation of composite cathode materials from cost‐effective waste‐product elemental sulfur and sustainable, nonhazardous vegetable oils is presented. High sulfur contents of up to 80 wt% are achieved. Scanning electron microscopy reveals that the composite materials consist of micrometer sized sulfur particles which are embedded in a crosslinked polymeric network. The polymeric network formed upon copolymerization of the fatty acid residues and elemental sulfur is similar to factice. For the first time factice‐like sulfur containing composites are utilized successfully as the active cathode material in Li–S batteries. Upon employment, high initial specific capacities up to 880 mAh g −1, good capacity retention abilities (63% after 100 cycles) as well as high coulombic efficiencies are achieved, suggesting reasonable suppression of polysulfide diffusion as a consequence of the embedment. Abstract : High‐sulfur content composite materials consisting of sulfur microparticles inside a copolymeric network can be prepared from cost‐effective waste‐product elemental sulfur and sustainable, nonhazardous vegetable oils in a simple one‐pot procedure and utilized as active material in lithium‐sulfur batteries yielding good capacity retention.