SPAN Cathode Powder for Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
SPAN cathode powder for lithium-sulfur battery research, offering high sulfur content, stable cycling performance, and reliable supply for laboratory and R&D applications.
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Name: SPAN Cathode Powder (Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile)
Material Form: Black powder
Product Code: XN-SPAN
Description:
SPAN (Sulfurized Polyacrylonitrile) is a battery-grade, covalently bonded sulfur-polymer composite cathode active material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Sulfur is chemically anchored to a cyclized polyacrylonitrile backbone via covalent S-C bonding, suppressing the polysulfide shuttle effect that limits conventional sulfur cathodes. The result is stable cycling in standard carbonate-based electrolytes — enabling Li-S cell manufacturing on existing lithium-ion production equipment with minimal CapEx retooling.
Application:
Cathode active material for lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries. Suitable for coin, pouch, and prismatic cell formats. Common use cases include UAV and military drone batteries, eVTOL and urban air mobility, HAPS / high-altitude pseudo-satellites, lightweight portable energy storage, and defense, aerospace, and space-grade battery R&D programs targeting 400+ Wh/kg energy density.
Specifications:
| Property | Specification | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Black powder | Black powder | Visual |
| Sulfur Content | > 50 wt% | 51% | TGA |
| Moisture | ≤ 1.0 wt% | 0.8% | Karl Fischer |
| Residual Solvents | ≤ 0.5 wt% | 0.4% | GC / TGA |
| Particle Size (D10 / D50 / D90) | 2–10 / 5–20 / <50 μm | 3.89 / 11.7 / 35.4 μm | Coulter |
| Volume-Weighted Mean D[4,3] | ≤ 25 μm | 15.9 μm | Coulter |
| BET Surface Area (N₂, 77K) | 5–25 m²/g | 13.4 m²/g | BET |
| DSC Thermal Behavior (115–125 °C) | No endothermic peak in crystallization zone | Stable baseline, low free-sulfur phase | DSC, 10 °C/min |
Metal Impurities:
| Element | Spec Limit (ppm) | Result (ppm) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Na | ≤ 150 | 28.18 | — |
| K | ≤ 50 | 7.67 | — |
| Fe | ≤ 300 | 69.21 | — |
| Cu | ≤ 1.0 | ND (< 0.001) | LOD 0.001 ppm |
| Ni | ≤ 1.0 | ND (< 0.005) | LOD 0.005 ppm |
| Zn | ≤ 2.0 | ND (< 0.02) | LOD 0.02 ppm |
| Pb | ≤ 1.0 | ND (< 0.05) | LOD 0.05 ppm |
| Total Metals | ≤ 500 | 105.06 | ND values included |
Values measured by Xnergy. Typical values for reference; not guaranteed unless otherwise specified.
Characteristics:
Polysulfide shuttle suppression
Covalent S-C bonding in the cyclized polyacrylonitrile matrix anchors sulfur during cycling, completely eliminating the polysulfide dissolution that limits conventional S₈ cathodes. This translates into stable cycling behavior at practical pouch-cell scale.
Carbonate electrolyte compatibility
Unlike elemental sulfur cathodes that require specialized ether-based electrolytes (DOL/DME), SPAN works in standard carbonate electrolytes (EC/DEC/DMC + LiPF₆) — enabling Li-S cell manufacturing on conventional lithium-ion production lines.
Validated pouch-cell capacity
>800 mAh/g first-discharge specific capacity at practical cell scale (1.0–3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺), with stable plateau near 1.85 V and reversible charge profile centered at 2.20 V.
Tight quality control
Every batch characterized by TGA, Karl Fischer titration, Coulter laser diffraction, BET, and DSC. Trace metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Pb) below detection limits. Total metals 105 ppm against a 500 ppm spec.
Performance Data:
Figure: First and second cycle charge–discharge curves of an Xnergy SPAN cathode pouch cell (1.0–3.0 V vs Li/Li⁺), showing >800 mAh/g initial discharge capacity, stable 1.85 V plateau, and reversible cycling behavior.
Packaging & Storage:
Vacuum-sealed aluminum-plastic moisture-barrier bags or HDPE containers. Packaging operations performed in dry, explosion-proof environments where required. Store sealed in cool, dry conditions away from moisture. Reseal immediately after opening. 12-month shelf stability when sealed.
Safety:
For research and industrial use only. Avoid dust inhalation. Wear PPE (masks, gloves, goggles). Handle in dry, ESD-controlled, explosion-proof environments. Refer to SDS for complete safety information.
Note: Values listed above are typical and for reference only. Performance may vary depending on cell architecture, electrolyte selection, and test protocol.
| Weight | 50g, 100g, 500g |
|---|
