Novel Nanocomposite Materials from Elemental Sulfur

University of Arizona
posted on 08/27/2010

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Introduction: Elemental sulfur nanomaterials fabricated via synthetic chemistry from colloids and polymers, using sulfur directly as the media, offers a novel class of high energy density polymers and nanocomposites based on elemental sulfur. Sulfur widely known as an outstanding electrical insulator, has not seen wide utilization to create dielectric previously because of the chemical stability.

Invention: Novel chemistry wherein elemental sulfur is used as the solvent and reducing agent to form stabilized, non-aggregated colloids composed of metallic and semiconductor materials offers a novel chemical route to enhance the chemical stability, electrochemical properties, and dielectric permittivity of elemental sulfur, which is a key development to utilize sulfur as a novel feedstock for advanced materials.

Advantage: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first method to create nanomaterials with elemental sulfur. Preliminary utilization of elemental sulfur for materials applications has been explored in the past; however, inherent problems with the chemical stability of these materials have limited technological developments in this area. The chemical methods develop at the university enable facile variation of the materials properties of sulfur by direct dissolution and colloid formation directly within a sulfur media.

Applications: The invention has significant potential as electrode materials for energy storage technologies. Elemental sulfur has been reported as a very high energy density cathode material in Lithium-sulfur batteries. Dielectric supercapacitors pursued for high energy density applications require high permittivity, low loss, dielectric materials enable said sulfur nanomaterials. Moreover, this technology improves utilization of elemental sulfur for materials applications. Exploration of novel utilization of sulfur is desirable, because current production of elemental sulfur derives from hydrodesulfurization of oil exceeds millions of tons annually. This invention expands chemistry to easily modify the properties of elemental sulfur, using "green" atom economical chemistry.

Status: A Provisional Patent Application has been filed on this chemical process. Commercial development partners with interest in sulfur chemistry and sulfur stabilized nanoparticles for potential application in lithium-sulfur batteries or dielectric capacitors are encouraged to contact this office for additional information.

Primary Inventor:  Jeffrey Pyun

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The invention has significant potential as electrode materials for energy storage technologies. Elemental sulfur has been reported as a very high energy density cathode material in Lithium-sulfur batteries. Dielectric supercapacitors pursued for high energy density applications require high permittivity, low loss, dielectric materials enable said sulfur nanomaterials. Moreover, this technology improves utilization of elemental sulfur for materials applications. Exploration of novel utilization of sulfur is desirable, because current production of elemental sulfur derives from hydrodesulfurization of oil exceeds millions of tons annually. This invention expands chemistry to easily modify the properties of elemental sulfur, using "green" atom economical chemistry.