SRI's new technology advances high-precision measuring of sulfur compounds

TOKYO—Sumitomo Rubber Industries has announced the development of what it describes as the "world's first" technology capable of measuring the structure and chemical state of matter at the nanoscale.

In a joint research study with the International Center for Synchrotron Radiation Innovation Smart at Tohoku University and the Riken research institute, the Japanese manufacturer said it developed "tender x-ray nanoscope technology," which helps it visualize sulfur compounds used in lithium-sulfur batteries.

The study, carried out at Japan's SPring-8 synchrotron radiation facility in Hyogo, provides "greater detail than ever before," said Sumitomo Rubber in a Sept. 5 statement.

The technology produces a "coherent x-ray diffraction image," which is achieved by irradiating sulfur compounds with a coherent tender x-ray beam.

Phase retrieval calculations are then used to generate "x-ray absorption image" and "x-ray phase image."

The process is then repeated at varying x-ray energies, explained SRI.

The visualization of the chemical state of the sulfur compounds is achieved through the combination of around 30 of such images.

"We believe that practical applications of this technology will bring about new improvements in battery performance," said the company.

In addition, by applying the technology to tire research, SRI expects to advance the development of even higher performance tires in the future.

SRI said it has long been actively engaged in research involving sulfur, a major raw material in tires that has a significant influence on performance as well as performance longevity of tires.

The company began the joint research on lithium-sulfur batteries in 2011 with the aim to apply its knowledge from tire research to the new field.

According to SRI, lithium-sulfur batteries have an expected theoretical capacity that is six to seven times greater than conventional lithium-ion batteries. They are also lighter and safer to use.

However, the commercialization of lithium-sulfur batteries has been hindered by their poor cycle life.

Improving cycle life, SRI said, will require "extremely high-precision measurements" of sulfur compounds.

"So, our research group set about developing the world's first 'tender x-ray nanoscope' (by) utilizing SPring-8," said SRI.

Moving forward, the company is planning to utilize the 3GeV-class synchrotron radiation facility NanoTerasu, which is scheduled to go online in 2024, for measurements of lithium-sulfur batteries under charge-discharge cycling.

"We also look forward to applying this technology in our tire research activities, including deeper analysis of the crosslink structure of the chemical bonds between rubber and sulfur," it added.

The rubber-sulfur advancement, SRI said, will help the company enhance performance sustainability in smart tires.