Forever Chemicals of Tomorrow? Fate of Fluorinated Li-Ion Battery Additives
- Fluorinated organic compounds (FOCs) are a category of anthropogenic chemicals distinguished by their resilient carbon-fluorine bonds, which confer significant chemical stability and resistance to degradation. This durability makes them valuable in various applications, particularly in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) [1,2]. However, the environmental implications of these compounds have not been thoroughly investigated. This study focuses on the environmental impact of two fluorinated aromatic compounds: tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine (TPFPP), specifically regarding their roles in enhancing LiB performance [3,4]. To assess their environmental fate, we employed a range of laboratory simulation techniques generating transformation products (TPs), including total oxidizable precursor assays, electrochemistry (EC), Fenton reactions, UV-C irradiation, and hydrolysis. We utilized liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled withFluorinated organic compounds (FOCs) are a category of anthropogenic chemicals distinguished by their resilient carbon-fluorine bonds, which confer significant chemical stability and resistance to degradation. This durability makes them valuable in various applications, particularly in lithium-ion batteries (LiBs) [1,2]. However, the environmental implications of these compounds have not been thoroughly investigated. This study focuses on the environmental impact of two fluorinated aromatic compounds: tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane (TPFPB) and tris(pentafluorophenyl)phosphine (TPFPP), specifically regarding their roles in enhancing LiB performance [3,4]. To assess their environmental fate, we employed a range of laboratory simulation techniques generating transformation products (TPs), including total oxidizable precursor assays, electrochemistry (EC), Fenton reactions, UV-C irradiation, and hydrolysis. We utilized liquid chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry to identify TPs and predict their molecular formulas. Despite their structural similarities, TPFPB and TPFPP displayed differences in electrochemical behavior and degradation pathways. TPFPB underwent significant transformation through hydroxylation and hydrolysis, yielding a diverse array of 49 TPs, including 28 newly identified compounds, including oligomers and minor levels of highly toxic dioxins. In contrast, TPFPP underwent degradation only at extreme conditions, highlighting the necessity for new conditioning protocols in electrochemistry. Overall, our simulation experiments revealed 9 structurally unique compounds, including 7 previously unidentified partially defluorinated byproducts. This study underscores the potential environmental hazards associated with the use of FOCs in lithium-ion batteries and enhances our understanding of the complex interactions these compounds have with the environment.…


| Autor*innen: | Juliane SchollORCiD |
|---|---|
| Koautor*innen: | Jan LisecORCiD, Hajo Haase, Matthias KochORCiD |
| Dokumenttyp: | Vortrag |
| Veröffentlichungsform: | Präsentation |
| Sprache: | Englisch |
| Jahr der Erstveröffentlichung: | 2025 |
| Organisationseinheit der BAM: | 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien |
| 1 Analytische Chemie; Referenzmaterialien / 1.7 Organische Spuren- und Lebensmittelanalytik | |
| DDC-Klassifikation: | Naturwissenschaften und Mathematik / Chemie / Analytische Chemie |
| Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften / Ingenieurwissenschaften / Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik | |
| Freie Schlagwörter: | Electrochemistry; High Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS); Lithium-Ion Batteries; PFAS; Photochemistry; Simulation methods; TOP assay |
| Themenfelder/Aktivitätsfelder der BAM: | Chemie und Prozesstechnik |
| Chemie und Prozesstechnik / Chemische Charakterisierung und Spurenanalytik | |
| Energie | |
| Energie / Elektrische Energiespeicher und -umwandlung | |
| Umwelt | |
| Umwelt / Umwelt-Material-Interaktionen | |
| Veranstaltung: | ANAKON 2025 |
| Veranstaltungsort: | Leipzig, Germany |
| Beginndatum der Veranstaltung: | 10.03.2025 |
| Enddatum der Veranstaltung: | 13.03.2025 |
| Zugehöriger Identifikator: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-024-05526-z |
| Verfügbarkeit des Dokuments: | Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") |
| Datum der Freischaltung: | 28.03.2025 |
| Referierte Publikation: | Nein |
| Eingeladener Vortrag (wissenschaftliche Konferenzen): | Nein |

