Abstract
In the sulphur electrode of sodium-sulphur cells, carbon surfaces (generally as yarns or felts) are used as current collectors. During the charging cycle, oxidation of the molten polysulphides results in sulphur as a second (immiscible) phase. If sulphur has preferential wetting properties, an insulating sulphur layer may be established. A technique for wetting measurements with the molten sulphur electrolyte at ∼330° C is described. The wetting properties of molten sulphur and molten polysulphides were investigated with both untreated and metal oxide treated carbon surfaces as substrates. Results are reported for felts with Fe, Ni, Co, Cr, Al (as oxides), and with H20, NaOH, Na2SO4 and Na2S2O3 as impurities in the fluid electrolyte.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
E. Rosen and R. Tegman,Chemien Scripta 2 (1972) 221.
N. K. Gupta and R. P. Tischet,J. Electrochem. Soc. 119 (1972) 1033.
‘Physical Properties Data Compilation Relevant to Energy Storage. II. Molten Salts Data on Single and Multi-Component Salt Systems’, U.S. Dept Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, NSRDS-NBS-61, Part II, April (1979).
R. D. Armstrong, T. Dickinson and M. Reid,Electrochim. Acta 20 (1975) 709.
D. A. Aikens, K. W. Fung, F. A. Ludwig and R. P. Tischer, ‘Extended Abstracts’,The Electrochemical Society Spring Meeting, Toronto, Canada (1975) p. 881.
R. D. Armstrong, T. Dickinson and M. Reid,Electrochim. Acta 21 (1976) 935.
F. A. Ludwig,Electrochem. Eng. 10 (1977) 391.
M. P. J. Brennan,Electrochim. Acta 22 (1977) 279, 609.
Idem, J. Electrochem. Soc. 125 (1978) 705.
R. D. Armstrong and M. Reid,Electrochim. Acta 22 (1977) 1332.
D. A. Aikens, in ‘The Sulfur Electrode’ (edited by R. Tischer) Academic Press, New York (1979).
G. J. Janz and R. M. Murphy,J. Electrochem. Soc. 125 (1978) 1605.
B. Cleaver, A. J. Davies and M. D. Hames,Electrochim. Acta 18 (1973) 719.
K. H. Stern,J. Phys. Chem. Ref. Data 1 (1972) 747.
K. Funaki and Y. Shimizu,Kogyo Kagaku, Zasshi 62 (1959) 788.
A. M. Kalinina and E. A. Porai-Koshito,Dokl. Akad. Nauk. SSSR 114 (1957) 365.
K. Nikolic and K. Velasevec,Acta Pharm. Jugosl. 10 (1960) 131.
J. W. Herrick, ‘Proc. 2nd. Ann. Technical Conf. Reinforced Plastics/Composites Division’, Soc. Plastics Ind. Inc., Section 16-A, (1968) p. 1.
J. C. Goan and J. P. Prosen,ASTM Special Publ. 452 ASTM, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103, USA (1969) pp. 3–26.
R. F. Bacon and R. Fanelli,Ind. Eng. Chem. 34 (1942) 1043.
E. A. Zhemchuzhina, in ‘Surface Phenomena In Metallurgical Processes’, (edited by A. I. Belyaev) Metallurgizdat, Moscow (1963); English Translation Consultants Bureau, New York (1965) pp. 70–101.
F. A. Ludwig, U.S. Patent 4 084 041; assigned to Ford Motor Co. (11 April 1978).
I. Wynn Jones and G. Robinson, Br. Patent 1 528 672; assigned to Chloride Silent Power Ltd., (18 October 1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Janz, G.J., Murphy, R.M. & Spiak, W.A. Wetting properties of the sulphur electrolyte in sodium — sulphur batteries. J Appl Electrochem 10, 789–797 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611283
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00611283