Yolk-shell nanoparticle, method and applications
A nanoparticle and a method for fabricating the nanoparticle utilize a decomposable material yoke located within permeable organic polymer material shell and separated from the permeable organic polymer material shell by a void space. When the decomposable material yoke comprises a sulfur material and the permeable organic polymer material shell comprises a material permeable to both a sulfur material vapor and a lithium ion within a battery electrolyte the nanoparticle may be used within an electrode for a Li/S battery absent the negative effects of battery electrode materials expansion.
1. A nanoparticle comprising:
a yoke comprising a sulfur material; and
a single shell comprising a permeable, sulfur-functionalized organic polymer material shell and surrounding the yoke, wherein the polymer is cross-linked by sulfide, disulfide, or a combination thereof.
2. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the yoke comprises a sulfur material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and other polysulfides.
3. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the permeable, sulfur-functionalized organic polymer material is permeable to vapors, ions including lithium ions, or a combination thereof.
4. The nanoparticle of claim 3 , wherein the yoke comprises a sulfur material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and polysulfides.
5. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the yoke has a diameter from about 200 to about 300 nanometers; and the shell has a diameter from about 300 to about 400 nanometers and a thickness from about 10 to about 20 nanometers.
6. The nanoparticle of claim 5 , wherein a void space interposed between the yoke and the shell comprises from about 25 to about 75 percent of the volume enclosed by the shell.
7. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein the polymer is polyaniline.
8. The nanoparticle of claim 1 , wherein a void space is interposed between the yolk and the shell.
9. An electrode comprising:
a conductive substrate; and
a coating located upon the conductive substrate, the coating consisting of a yoke, a single shell, and a void space interposed between the yoke and the shell, wherein the shell comprises a permeable organic polymer material and surrounds the yolk, and wherein the polymer is cross-linked by sulfide, disulfide, or a combination thereof.
10. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein:
the yoke comprises a sulfur material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and other polysulfides.
11. The electrode of claim 9 , wherein the yoke has a diameter from about 200 to about 300 nanometers;
the shell has a diameter from about 300 to about 400 nanometers; and
the void space interposed between the yoke and the shell forms from about 25 to about 75 percent of the volume enclosed by the shell.
12. A battery comprising an electrode comprising:
a conductive substrate; and
a coating located upon the conductive substrate, the coating including a nanoparticle consisting of a yoke and a single shell, wherein the shell comprises a sulfur-functionalized, permeable organic polymer material and surrounds the yolk, and wherein the polymer is cross-linked by sulfide, disulfide, or a combination thereof.
13. The battery of claim 12 , wherein:
the yoke comprises a sulfur material selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and other polysulfides.
14. The battery of claim 12 , wherein the yoke has a diameter from about 200 to about 300 nanometers; and
the shell has a diameter from about 300 to about 400 nanometers.
15. The battery of claim 12 wherein the battery comprises a Li/S battery.
16. The battery of claim 12 , wherein a void space is interposed between the yolk and the shell.
17. A nanoparticle comprising:
a yolk comprising a sulfur material; and
a shell comprising a permeable organic polymer material surrounding the yolk, wherein the yolk is contacting the polymer material, wherein the polymer is cross-linked by sulfide, disulfide, or a combination thereof.
18. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the sulfur material is selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and polysulfides.
19. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the sulfur material comprises elemental sulfur.
20. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the sulfur material comprises lithium sulfide.
21. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the sulfur material comprises Li 2 S n .
22. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the permeable organic polymer material is sulfur-functionalized.
23. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the permeable organic polymer material comprises a conductive polymer.
24. The nanoparticle of claim 23 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises polyaniline.
25. The nanoparticle of claim 24 , wherein the polyaniline is sulfur functionalized.
26. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , further comprising a void space separating the yolk at least in part from the shell.
27. The nanoparticle of claim 26 , wherein the void space forms from about 25 to about 75 percent of the volume enclosed by the shell.
28. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the yolk has a diameter from about 200 to about 300 nanometers.
29. The nanoparticle of claim 17 , wherein the shell has a thickness from about 10 to about 20 nanometers.
30. An electrode comprising a nanoparticle of claim 17 .
31. An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode of claim 30 .
32. A nanoparticle comprising:
a yolk comprising a sulfur material;
a shell comprising a permeable organic polymer material surrounding the yolk, wherein the polymer is cross-linked by sulfide, disulfide, or a combination thereof; and
a void space interposed between the yolk and the shell, wherein the void space is adjacent to the permeable organic polymer material.
33. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the sulfur material is selected from the group consisting of elemental sulfur, S 8 , Li 2 S n , and polysulfides.
34. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the sulfur material comprises elemental sulfur.
35. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the sulfur material comprises lithium sulfide.
36. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the sulfur material comprises Li 2 S n .
37. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the permeable organic polymer material is sulfur-functionalized.
38. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the permeable organic polymer material comprises a conductive polymer.
39. The nanoparticle of claim 38 , wherein the conductive polymer comprises polyaniline.
40. The nanoparticle of claim 39 , wherein the polyaniline is sulfur functionalized.
41. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the void space forms from about 25 to about 75 percent of the volume enclosed by the shell.
42. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the yolk has a diameter from about 200 to about 300 nanometers.
43. The nanoparticle of claim 32 , wherein the shell has a thickness from about 10 to about 20 nanometers.
44. An electrode comprising a nanoparticle of claim 32 .
45. An electrochemical cell comprising an electrode of claim 44 .