Energetics of Sulfur-Carbon Interaction.

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Physical Chemistry
• Surface Science

Background:

• Understanding sulfur-carbon interactions is crucial for applications like batteries and catalysis.
• Porous carbons are widely used as supports due to their high surface area.
• The energetics of sulfur adsorption on carbon surfaces influence material performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the energetics of sulfur-carbon interactions.
• To determine the influence of carbon pore structure on sulfur incorporation.
• To assess the wetting behavior of liquid sulfur on different carbon surfaces.

Main Methods:

• Thermo-desorption experiments were conducted.
• Immersion microcalorimetry was employed.
• Sulfur was incorporated into meso- and microporous carbons via liquid and vapor phase impregnation.

Main Results:

• Similar immersion enthalpies per unit area were observed for liquid sulfur across three different carbons.
• Vapor impregnation preferentially filled microporous domains.
• Liquid impregnation filled micro-, meso-, and macroporous domains.
• Liquid sulfur, below its polymerization temperature, wets the entire nitrogen-accessible surface.

Conclusions:

• The surface-liquid interactions between sulfur and the studied carbons are similar.
• The pore structure and impregnation method influence sulfur distribution.
• Liquid sulfur exhibits good wetting properties on these porous carbon materials.