Abstract
Perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) ionomer membranes degrade under accelerated testing conditions such as open circuit voltage (OCV). Analyzing effluent water for fluoride ion release rate is a primary method for evaluating the membrane degradation rate. However, many proposed degradation reaction pathways should result in the release of small molecule polymer fragments. Liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) methods are well suited to analyze for these fragments and provide insight into the degradation reactions. Accelerated OCV durability tests were conducted on membrane electrode assemblies made with 3M Ionomer or Nafion™ membranes. Effluent water was analyzed for fluoride, sulfate, and trifluoroacetic acid by ion chromatography (IC) and other polymer fragments by LC/MS. The results of this study imply significant degradation occurs at the tertiary fluoride on the polymer backbone or the ether oxygen connecting the side chain to the backbone. In Nafion™, these structural features also exist in the ionomer sidechain.
Published Version
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