Everything Matters: Sulfur

Consider the volcanic origins of sulfur’s fire-and-brimstone reputation and discern its ancient applications in medicine, fumigation, and alchemy. Sniff out sulfur’s essential role in cell biology, as well as its smelly signature in the odors of skunks and rotting eggs. Encounter the industrial importance of sulfuric acid and learn its particular promise in rechargeable battery research with Dr. Elton Cairns of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory.

Today's lithium ion batteries aren’t able to meet the power and energy requirements for portable electronics and electric vehiclesâ€"nor are they meeting safety and cost requirements well. Lithium/ sulfur batteries could potentially triple the energy storage capability of lithium ion cells, enough for electric cars with a 300-mile range, and at a lower cost with improved safety. Dr. Cairns will present this new battery and explain the current state of Li/S cell development along with the latest research at Berkeley Lab.

Elton Cairns is Professor of the Graduate School in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, and Faculty Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. Dr. Cairns has published over 280 papers, 25 patents, and a book in the areas of electrochemical kinetics, batteries, fuel cells, molten salts, liquid metals, thermodynamics, surface chemistry, catalysis, and transport phenomena. His current research includes lithium/sulfur cells, lithium ion cells, and electrocatalysts for fuel cells.