Degradation Study of Perfluorosulfonic Acid Polymer Electrolytes: Approach from Decomposition Product Analysis
Open accessAbstract
Operation tests were applied to fuel cell with perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) polymer for membranes and electrodes. Degradation of PFSA polymer in catalyst layers after the tests was investigated using 19 F NMR. As the decomposition products, six kinds of the side-chain fragments were acquired from the water and the methanol extracts, and the each weight of the fragment was acquired. The side-chain fragments indicate that side-chain scission occurs at two positions in the side-chain. Moreover, reduction of relative equivalent weight for all PFSA polymer (EW*all) and amounts of PFSA polymer in catalyst layer after the tests suggests that main-chain scission occurs. Hydrogen peroxide vapor (HPV) exposure tests were applied to PFSA polymer membranes. PFSA polymer degradation after the tests was investigated using ion chromatography and total organic carbon analysis for trap water, and using 19 FNMR for water/methanol extracts of membranes. Decomposition products other than fluoride ion accounted for a significant portion of degradation weight loss, and their generation rates were not proportional to fluoride ion release rate (FRR). The differences between the results of FRR and other decomposition product analysis strongly suggest the presence of two or more decomposition mechanisms in PFSA degradation.
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These species have not been previously reported in environmental media, to the best of the authors' knowledge.
“While these species have not been previously reported in environmental media, to the best of our knowledge, the literature of fluorochemical manufacturers proposes a few possible structures in this group, primarily as side products in fluoropolymer production and degradation.(55–57)”
From Identification of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Cape Fear River by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Nontargeted Screening (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
The literature of fluorochemical manufacturers proposes a few possible structures in this group, primarily as side products in fluoropolymer production and degradation.
“While these species have not been previously reported in environmental media, to the best of our knowledge, the literature of fluorochemical manufacturers proposes a few possible structures in this group, primarily as side products in fluoropolymer production and degradation.(55–57)”
From Identification of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in the Cape Fear River by High Resolution Mass Spectrometry and Nontargeted Screening (2019) · cites this paper as [55]
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- Authors
- Takasaki, M., Nakagawa, Y., Sakiyama, Y., Tanabe, K., Ookubo, K., Sato, N., Minamide, T., Nakayama, H., & Hori, M.
- Affiliations
- Toray Research Center, Inc. (Japan) (JP)
- Daido University (JP)
- Venue
- Journal of The Electrochemical Society
- Publisher
- The Electrochemical Society
- Published
- 2013
- Volume
- 160
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- F413-F416
- ISSN
- 0013-4651 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-7111
- OpenAlex
- W2161195069
- Cited by
- 30
- References
- 20
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 2 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2014: 2
- FWCI
- 0.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Journal of The Electrochemical Society (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Electrical and Electronic Engineering › Fuel Cells and Related Materials
- Physical Sciences › Materials Science › Materials Chemistry › Advancements in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
- Physical Sciences › Energy › Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment › Electrocatalysts for Energy Conversion
- Keywords
- perfluorosulfonic acid polymers, degradation products, main chain scission, catalyst layer, fluoride release, decomposition mechanism, fuel cell membranes, 19F NMR
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