Sulfurization of polymers. 4. Poly(4,5,6,7-tetrathiono-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzothiophene-2,3-diyl) and related structures based on polystyrene and elemental sulfur

Polystyrene was exhaustively sulfurized with elemental sulfur at 190--370 °C to liberate hydrogen sulfide and to form black lustrous powders (the sulfur content was up to 67%) possessing conductivity (10^–7--10^–6 S cm^–1 upon doping with I₂), paramagnetic properties ((3.4--13)·10¹⁹ sp g^–1, g = 2.0040--2.0046, H = 0.36--0.47 mT), and redox properties. The use of these polymers as active cathode materials in lithium batteries allows their repeated cycling at a specific discharge capacity of up to 330 mA h g^–1. The data of elemental analysis and differential scanning calorimetry, the IR and ESR spectra, the conductivities, and the character of electrochemical activity of the polymers synthesized are consistent with poly(4,5,6,7-tetrathiono-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrobenzothiophene-2,3-diyl) and related structures.