Atmospheric Chemistry of (CF3)2CF-C≡N: A Replacement Compound for the Most Potent Industrial Greenhouse Gas, SF6.

FTIR/smog chamber experiments and ab initio quantum calculations were performed to investigate the atmospheric chemistry of (CF3)2CFCN, a proposed replacement compound for the industrially important sulfur hexafluoride, SF6. The present study determined k(Cl + (CF3)2CFCN) = (2.33 ± 0.87) × 10-17, k(OH + (CF3)2CFCN) = (1.45 ± 0.25) × 10-15, and k(O3 + (CF3)2CFCN) ≤ 6 × 10-24 cm3 molecule-1 s-1, respectively, in 700 Torr of N2 or air diluent at 296 ± 2 K. The main atmospheric sink for (CF3)2CFCN was determined to be reaction with OH radicals. Quantum chemistry calculations, supported by experimental evidence, shows that the (CF3)2CFCN + OH reaction proceeds via OH addition to -C(≡N), followed by O2 addition to -C(OH)═N·, internal H-shift, and OH regeneration. The sole atmospheric degradation products of (CF3)2CFCN appear to be NO, COF2, and CF3C(O)F. The atmospheric lifetime of (CF3)2CFCN is approximately 22 years. The integrated cross section (650-1500 cm-1) for (CF3)2CFCN is (2.22 ± 0.11) × 10-16 cm2 molecule-1 cm-1 which results in a radiative efficiency of 0.217 W m-2 ppb-1. The 100-year Global Warming Potential (GWP) for (CF3)2CFCN was calculated as 1490, a factor of 15 less than that of SF6.