Thermal Decomposition Behavior and By-Product Formation Mechanism of Trifluoromethanesulfonyl Fluoride
Shen Sijie1,2, Gao Keli3, Yan Xianglian3, Duan Junran1,2, Zhang Guoqiang1,2, Han Dong1,2
1. Institute of Electrical Engineering Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100190 China; 2. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences Beijing 100049 China; 3. China Electric Power Research Institute Beijing 100192 China
Abstract:The chemical stability and decomposition characteristics of SF6 alternative gases play a crucial role in determining the insulation performance and operational safety of environmentally friendly gas-insulated electrical equipment. Among the potential substitutes, trifluoromethanesulfonyl fluoride (CF3SO2F) has attracted increasing attention due to its excellent dielectric properties and low global warming potential (GWP). However, its thermal stability under overheating conditions has not been systematically studied, and a clear understanding of its decomposition behavior is essential for its reliable application in power equipment. To clarify its decomposition mechanism and major gaseous products, a series of overheating defect simulation experiments were conducted under controlled temperature conditions. The chamber was cleaned and evacuated to remove residual moisture and oxygen, then charged with CF3SO2F at a preset pressure and heated stepwise from 120℃ to 400℃ to simulate localized overheating. The decomposition products were identified and quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), and their temperature-dependent concentration trends were analyzed, providing key insights into the decomposition pathways of CF3SO2F. Experimental results show that CF3SO2F remains thermally stable below approximately 250℃ but begins to gradually decompose as the temperature increases beyond this threshold. At 400°C, CF3SO2F is almost completely decomposed, and the dominant products are CF4, C2F6, C3F8, SO2, SO2F2, and SOF2. Among these species, fluorocarbon products (CF4, C2F6, and C3F8) are indicative of the cleavage and recombination of C-F fragments, while sulfur-oxygen products (SO2, SO2F2, and SOF2) reflect the oxidation and rearrangement processes of the sulfonyl group under high-temperature conditions. The formation of such products suggests that multiple parallel and consecutive reactions occur during CF3SO2F decomposition, governed by both thermal activation and radical recombination mechanisms. To further elucidate the molecular-level mechanisms, comprehensive quantum chemical calculations were performed at the M06-2X/aug-cc-pVTZ level combined with single-point energy refinement at the CBS-QB3 level for improved energetic accuracy. Several plausible decomposition and product formation pathways were proposed and characterized by geometry optimization, transition state search, and intrinsic reaction coordinate (IRC) analysis. The computed thermodynamic parameters, including enthalpy (ΔH) and Gibbs free energy changes (ΔG), were used to assess the feasibility and spontaneity of each pathway. Results show that the C-S bond cleavage pathway possesses the lowest energy barrier, confirming it as the primary decomposition route of CF3SO2F. Subsequent radical recombination reactions lead to the generation of CF? and longer-chain perfluorocarbons (C2F6 and C3F8), with increasing synthetic difficulty following the order CF4<C2F6<C3F8. Meanwhile, the formation of sulfur-oxygen species is mainly attributed to rearrangement and oxidation reactions involving SO2F and SOF intermediates under elevated temperature conditions. Overall, the combination of experimental and theoretical results provides a comprehensive understanding of the thermal decomposition mechanism of CF3SO2F. The findings indicate that although CF3SO2F exhibits good thermal stability under moderate conditions, it undergoes significant decomposition under severe overheating, producing fluorocarbons and sulfur oxides that may influence insulation performance and environmental safety. The established decomposition pathways and thermodynamic data offer valuable theoretical and experimental guidance for assessing the stability, safety, and engineering applicability of CF3SO2F as a potential alternative to SF6 in gas-insulated electrical equipment.
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