Methyl nonafluorobutyl ether can be used alone or in combination with other chemicals, e.g., in applications where CFCs have been used in the past (as a solvent, a cleaning fluid, a heat transfer agent, a refrigerant, or as a metal working agent in the cutting or forming of metals ).

Green Preparation

Methyl nonafluorobutyl ether can be prepared from its acyl fluoride precursor compound and dimethyl sulfate.

Applications in Lithium Batteries

Use of methyl nonafluorobutyl ether (MFE) has been studied to develop an inherently safe electrolyte for lithium secondary batteries. A no flash point (NFP) solution was prepared by mixing a proper amount of MFE with a common electrolyte solvent such as dimethyl carbonate or ethyl methyl carbonate (EMC) and the NFP electrolyte was obtained by dissolving organic lithium salts (e.g.,LiBETI) in the NFP solution. Cell capacities with NFP electrolyte of (M) LiBETI-MFE/EMC (80:20 vol %) were limited by the charge-discharge process on the graphite anode. Electrolyte components were investigated in terms of modifying the solid electrolyte interface film to improve the charge-discharge performance and cycle life of NFP electrolyte. Adding cyclic carbonate (e.g., ethylene carbonate, EC) and to the electrolyte reduced the interfacial resistance in a graphite/Li cell. A 18650 cylindrical cell with EC and added to 1 M LiBETI-MFE/EMC (80:20) electrolyte discharged more than 90% of its capacity at a 1 C current rate (vs. the capacity at the 0.1 C) and kept more than 80% of its initial capacity after 560 cycles at the 1 C current rate and room temperature.

Reference

1.Arai J. Nonflammable Methyl Nonafluorobutyl Ether for Electrolyte Used in Lithium Secondary Batteries. Journal of The Electrochemical Society. 2003; 150: 1.