Studies on the super-sulphur battery

The main work contained in this thesis was the collection of data used to measure the current distribution along the length of a 27Ah tubular sodium-sulphur cell. This was carried out using voltage probes monitoring the potential differences at different discharge/charge rates. The preparation and identification (by Raman spectroscopy) of sodium polysulphides, Na2Sx where x&#61; 2 to 5, have been carried out and also attempts were made to find the actual composition of a polysulphide melt of known stoichiometry. This was done by converting a polysulphide melt of known composition into sulphanes, H2Sx, and analysing these by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). A UV/Vis spectroscopic analysis of Na2Sx in various solvents was made. The inter-diffusion coefficient, DNa/s, in a sodium tetrasulphide melt was also measured.</p