POS6-0378
Inverse Vulcanized Polymers with Controlled Sulfur Allotropes for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
Topic
S6. Emerging Polymer and Hybrid Materials for Advanced Energy Storage and Conversion
When and Where
Sep 29, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Hae Jung SON
Boseok KANG
Presenter(s)
Woongsik Choi (Postech)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Lithium-sulfur batteries have attracted considerable attention as next-generation energy storage systems due to their high theoretical energy density and low cost. However, persistent challenges such as the shuttle effect and the intrinsic insulating nature of sulfur continue to limit their practical application. In this study, we synthesized a series of inverse vulcanized polymers using functional comonomers capable of interacting with lithium polysulfides, and evaluated their performance as cathode active materials in lithium-sulfur batteries. In contrast to previous reports, where inverse vulcanized polymers typically exhibit either amorphous structures or the alpha sulfur crystalline phase, we demonstrate control over sulfur allotropes in these polymers and systematically inverse vulcanized polymers investigate the relationship between sulfur crystallinity and electrochemical properties. This approach enables the synthesis of sulfur-rich polymers containing beta or gamma allotropes under ambient conditions, leading to improved electrochemical properties, including enhanced electrical conductivity, increased Li+ diffusion coefficients, suppressed shuttle effects and improved cycling stability.
