EPR Study on the Oxidative Degradation of Phenyl Sulfonates, Constituents of Aromatic Hydrocarbon-Based Proton-Exchange Fuel Cell Membranes

Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Tracks Condition-Sensitive Water Radical Cation

Oxidizing species or radicals generated in water are of vital importance in catalysis, the environment, and biology. In addition to several related reactive oxygen species, using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), we present a nontrapping chemical transformation pathway to track water radical cation (H2O+•) species, whose formation is very sensitive to the conditioning environments, such as light irradiation, mechanical action, and gas/chemical introduction. We reveal that H2O+• can oxidize the 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (DMPO) to the crucial epoxy hydroxylamine (HDMP=O) intermediate, which further reacts with the hydroxyl radical (•OH) for the formation of the EPR-active sextet radical (DMPO=O•). Interestingly, we uncover that H2O+• can react with dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP), 2-methyl-2-nitrosopropane (MNP), 5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (BMPO), and α-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN) which contain a double-bond structure to produce corresponding derivatives as well. It is thus expected that both H2O+• and •OH are ubiquitous in nature and in various water-containing experimental systems. These findings provide a novel perspective on radicals for water redox chemistry.

On the Radical-Induced Degradation of Quaternary Ammonium Cations for Anion-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells and Electrolyzers

Four benzylic-type quaternary ammonium (QA) compounds with different electron density at the phenyl group were evaluated for their susceptibility against degradation by radicals. Time-resolved absorption spectroscopy indicated that radicals with oxidizing and reducing character were formed upon oxidation by HO⋅ and O⋅- (conjugate base of HO⋅). It was estimated that, dependent on the QA, 18-41 % of the formed radicals were oxidizing with standard electrode potentials (E0 ) above 0.276 V and 13-23 % exceeded 0.68 V, while 13-48 % were reducing with E0 <-0.448 V. The stability of these model compounds against oxidation and reductive dealkylation was evaluated at both neutral and strongly alkaline conditions, pH 14. Under both conditions, electron-donating groups promoted radical degradation, while electron-withdrawing ones increased stability. Therefore, durability against radical-induced degradation shows an opposite trend to alkaline stability and needs to be considered during the rational design of novel anion-exchange membranes for fuel cells and electrolyzers.