Experimental study demonstrates degradable nonfluorocarbon fluoropolymers based on NHC-PF5 zwitterions, indicating a viable strategy for sustainable fluorine mineralization.
Fluorocarbon polymers possess exceptional thermal and chemical stability but present end-of-life challenges because of their longevity and environmental persistence. Here, we report a distinct class of fluorine-rich polymers based on N-heterocyclic carbene-pentafluorophosphorus (NHC-PF5) zwitterions that contain no C–F bonds. These NHC-PF5-functional polymers are thermally robust, exhibiting high glass-transition temperatures and optical clarity that arise from zwitterion–zwitterion interactions. Despite their zwitterionic character, the polymers display hydrophobic surfaces and aqueous insolubility. While chemically stable at ambient temperatures, the NHC-PF5 polymers undergo alkaline hydrolysis at elevated temperatures to generate inorganic fluoride, establishing a pathway for end-of-life fluorine mineralization.
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Rowsey et al. (2026) studied this question.
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