Copper fluoride containing no more than 50 ppm of any contaminating element was prepared by the fluorination of copper hydroxyfluoride. The impurity content was obtained by spark source mass spectrometry. High purity copper fluoride is needed as a cathode material for high energy density batteries

King, R. B.

Lundquist, J. R.

English

NASA Technical Reports Server

May 1969
	
Brief 69-10136 
NASA Tech Briefs are issued to summarize specific innovations derived from the U.S. space program, 
to encourage their commercial application. Copies are available to the public at 15 cents each 
from the Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific and Technical Information, Springfield, Virginia 22151. 
Preparation of High Purity Copper Fluoride 
by Fluorinating Copper Hydroxyfluoride 
The problem: 
To prepare copper fluoride containing no more than 
50 ppm of any contaminating element. Such high 
purity copper fluoride is needed as a cathode material 
for high energy density batteries. Copper fluoride 
which was obtained commercially did not meet these 
rigid specifications. In general, the concentrations 
of oxygen and iron were too high. 
The solution: 
Copper fluoride with the desired purity was pre-
1. CuOHF—CuO+HF 
2. CuO + F2 —CuF2
 + 1/202 
In reaction 1, finely divided and active copper oxide 
is formed which reacts with the fluorine as it is
formed, thus minimizing the formation of clinkers (as 
occurs in the case of fluorinating copper sulfide. Fur-
thermore, the liberation of hydrogen fluoride tends to 
break up clinkers. The decomposition products from 
reactions 1 and 2 are gaseous and easily removed; 
consequently, a pure copper fluoride product is left. 
Notes: 
1. The success with this method suggests that other 
high purity metallic fluorides could be prepared in 
a similar manner. 
2. Two other ways of preparing copper fluoride were 
investigated in an attempt to obtain the desired 
purity. These two techniques were fluorinating 
copper sulfide and decomposing the double salt, 
copper ammonium fluoride, in the presence of fluo-
rine. The desired purity was not obtained with 
either of these techniques. 
3. No further documentation is available. 
4. Technical questions may be directed to: 
Technology Utilization Officer 
Lewis Research Center 
21000 Brookpark Road 
Cleveland, Ohio 44135 
Reference: B69-10136 
Patent status: 
Inquiries about obtaining rights for the commercial 
use of this invention may be made to NASA, Code GP, 
Washington, D.C. 20546
Source: J. R. Lundquist 
of Battelle Northwest
and R. B. King
of Lewis Research Center
(LEW-10794)
Category 03 
.
pared by the fluorination of copper hydroxyfluoride. 
The impurity content of copper fluoride prepared in 
this way was obtained by spark source mass spec-
trometry. 
How it's done: 
Fluorine gas is passed over the copper hydroxyfluo-
ride while raising the temperature to 525 and then 
holding the temperature at 525 C C for 30 minutes. 
The copper hydroxyfluoride was contained in a copper 
boat to minimize contamination. The reaction vessel 
was fabricated from monet and monel tubing was used 
to carry the fluorine gas. 
There are many advantages to using copper hydroxy-
fluoride as a starting material. One advantage is that 
copper hydroxyfluoride can be purchased commer-
cially containing less than 10 ppm of any metallic im-
purity. Another advantage is that this compound is 
not appreciably passivated (as in the case of fluorinat-
ing copper metal) and the reaction goes to completion. 
The reason for this can be shown by reactions 1 and 2. 
This document was prepared under the sponsorship of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration. Neither the United States 
Government nor any person acting on behalf of the United States
Government assumes any liability resulting from the use of the 
information contained in this document, or warrants that such use 
will be free from privately owned rights.
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Preparation of high purity copper fluoride by fluorinating copper hydroxyfluoride

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