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Sulfur‐Based Polymer Composites from Vegetable Oils and Elemental Sulfur: A Sustainable Active Material for Li–S Batteries
Author(s) -
Hoefling Alexander,
Lee Young Joo,
Theato Patrick
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201600303
Subject(s) - polysulfide , sulfur , polymer , cathode , environmentally friendly , chemical engineering , composite number , materials science , chemistry , scanning electron microscope , composite material , organic chemistry , ecology , electrode , engineering , electrolyte , biology
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.