Our objective was to prepare some strong acids for evaluation as potential fuelcell electrolytes. The major acid, other than H3P04, currently under investigation is TFMSA (CF3S03-H* H, O). TFMSA has been found to be superior to H3P04 from the standpoint of electrode kinetics, but certain undesirable characteristics (volatility, wetting of Teflon) led to this search for a better fuel-cell electrolyte. Barrick (7, 2) and Coffman (3) prepared ...
