Sulfur‐Tuned Advanced Carbons of Novel Properties and Scalable Productivity

• Published in: Advanced functional materials 2024-02, Vol.34 (7), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Barczak, Mariusz, Florent, Marc, Bhalekar, Snehal S., Kaneko, Katsumi, Messinger, Robert J., Bandosz, Teresa J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Al‐S batteries; Carbon; Controllability; controlled porosity; Electrical resistivity; Electrode materials; gamma sulfur; hydrothermal method; Insertion; Rechargeable batteries; Sulfur; sulfur insertion
• ISSN: 1616-301X; 1616-3028
• DOI: 10.1002/adfm.202310398

Sulfur‐tuned advanced carbons (STACs) with high mass loadings of sulfur are synthesized using an environmentally benign and scalable steam‐assisted sulfur insertion (SASI) method. While steam provides the pressure necessary to promote deep and rapid sulfur insertion into a carbon porous structure, a strong affinity between melted sulfur and carbon excludes water from pore penetration. The resulting STACs exhibit sulfur mass loadings up to 85% and the electrical conductivity of the carbon framework is largely preserved. The sulfur penetration can be tuned to fill specific pore sizes, enabling pore‐size‐dependent allocation of sulfur and controllable porosity, while sulfur lines the carbon pore surfaces. A significant amount of sulfur is in the monoclinic γ phase. To demonstrate their energy and environmental applications, the STACs are used as cathode materials in rechargeable aluminum‐sulfur batteries and as adsorption materials for spilled oil removal. Novel Sulfur‐tuned advanced carbons (STACs) are obtained with sulfur loading up to 85%. They are electrically conductive and hydrophobic. Their composition is designed to enable pore‐size‐dependent allocation of sulfur and controllable porosity. Steam provides the pressure for a deep and rapid sulfur insertion, and a strong affinity between melted sulfur and carbon excludes water from entering pores.