Hanyang University Research Team Proposes High-Value Utilization Plan for 'Sulfur-Rich Polymers'

Hanyang University announced on the 20th that research team members Jo Ungbi and Kim Seongsu, integrated master's and doctoral course students under Professor Wi Jeongjae, published a paper on sustainable high value-added utilization methods for waste-based sulfur-rich polymers.

Jowungbi, integrated master's and doctoral course student (from left), Kim Seongsu, integrated master's and doctoral course student, and Professor Wi Jeongjae of the Department of Organic Nano Engineering.
[Photo by Hanyang University]

The research team has been conducting multi-year studies to achieve sustainable high value-added utilization of elemental sulfur, a petroleum refining waste produced in massive surplus quantities annually. Last year, they applied sulfur-rich polymers to the infrared optical field and developed a high-performance optical polarizer, which was published in the top-tier international materials science journal Advanced Materials (IF=32.086).

This paper introduces research on infrared optical systems and triboelectric generators based on sulfur-rich polymers, and suggests directions for improvement in the field. It is based on the insight that the main chain of sulfur-rich polymers consists of disulfide bonds, which have superior infrared transmittance compared to carbon bonds, and that sulfur, as a constituent element, has better electron affinity than carbon. These properties were applied to polymer-based infrared optical systems and eco-friendly energy harvesting systems such as triboelectric generators.

Professor Wi stated, “This proves that the ongoing research on sulfur-rich polymers has reached a world-class level,” and added, “I am very proud of the laboratory students who have published excellent papers through continuous research.”

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