Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate entered the scene back as the world searched for photosensitive compounds that could outlast classic diazonium salts. Chemists began exploring the chemistry of onium salts and their applications in the electronics world during the late 20th century. Research intensified during the microelectronics boom. As the semiconductor industry demanded higher-resolution lithography, sulfonium salts, especially those paired with fluorinated counter-anions, captured attention. Their introduction followed years of tinkering with onium structures, tracing discoveries in photochemistry and catalysis going back decades. Scientists prioritized stability, solubility, and photoreactivity, eventually landing on the nonafluorobutanesulfonate version for its clean photolysis and low residue.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate typically appears as an off-white to pale yellow powder or crystalline material. It is valued for releasing strong acids when exposed to UV light. This reaction underpins its popularity in photoresist chemistry and polymer crosslinking. Laboratories and fabs order the material in a range of purities and hydrate states, and vendors ship it in airtight containers to prevent moisture pickup. The compound carries a molecular weight around 554 g/mol and sports a variety of labeling standards, depending on the supplier and end-use certification needs, to support traceability.
In my own handling of triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate, I’ve known it as moderately soluble in common organic solvents like acetonitrile, acetone, and propylene carbonate. It resists hydrolysis better than many alternatives, thanks to its perfluorinated anion. The substance melts at temperatures above 180°C and decomposes with release of sulfur oxides and fluorinated fragments, calling for careful control on heating. Its stability in the dark, before photolysis, gives process engineers a reliable shelf window in both lab and factory settings. This characteristic means less waste and lower costs for companies working with high-value wafers or polymers.
Product labels spell out essential details: purity (frequently 98% or better), batch number, recommended storage (typically dry and below 25°C), and hazard pictograms. Packaging often features lot tracking for regulatory compliance, bar codes, and manufacturer contact. For large-scale users, some suppliers provide certificates of analysis and heavy-metal screens. Suppliers may also offer documentation supporting compliance with REACH, TSCA, and RoHS, since electronics firms must prove safety all the way down the supply chain—especially for international shipments.
Synthesis usually starts with triphenylsulfonium chloride, which reacts with potassium nonafluorobutanesulfonate. Mixing the materials in a polar solvent facilitates metathesis, and the resulting product precipitates out due to low solubility in water. Washing and recrystallization follow. Purity can be bumped up by additional solvent extraction cycles and vacuum drying, and operators watch closely for trace impurities that might spoil photoresist formulations. Research teams often keep one eye on scaling and another on purity—balancing yield with the need for minimal contamination in advanced manufacturing.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate is a kingpin in acid-catalyzed photoreactions. Hit it with the right wavelength, and the molecule shatters, generating a strong acid and triphenylsulfide. This acid can start polymerization, unmask functional groups, or trigger crosslinking. Because it acts through photolysis, users can spatially control where chemistry happens by customizing exposure patterns. In my own workflow, I’ve paired it with fluorinated monomers to push boundaries in high-performance coatings. Modifications in the cation or anion can tweak photosensitivity, so R&D teams regularly experiment with different onium and perfluoroalkyl combinations to improve process windows.
Depending on the catalog, you might spot this compound under names like TPS nonaflate, triphenylsulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate, or just its initials (TPS-Nf). Chemical abstracts and supplier lists also catalog it as triphenylsulfonium nonaflate or use registry numbers for ordering. Product codes shift across manufacturers, but keen buyers always compare data sheets to avoid confusion—especially with similarly named onium salts.
Chemists treat this compound with respect. Dust can irritate, and the powder sometimes gets staticky, so gloves and goggles become second nature. Its photoreactivity calls for some discipline: bottles remain in the dark, and labs store it far from UV sources. Firms set strict guidelines for waste—both spent solutions and decomposed byproducts, since perfluoroalkyl fragments pose environmental challenges. Many facilities actively track inventory, log usage, and conduct regular spill drills as a best practice. I’ve seen firsthand how small exposure lapses can lead to contamination and wasted batches, so experienced techs rarely cut corners.
Most of the action for triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate lands in microelectronics, particularly as a photoacid generator in deep-UV and e-beam lithography. Advanced packaging, MEMS fabrication, and display coatings all tap into its strengths. Photoresist makers lean on the substance to push line widths lower without bumping up defects. Outside electronics, you’ll find it used in on-demand polymerizations, UV-curable adhesives, and high-performance films where precise acid generation unlocks new properties. Development researchers keep testing its limits, looking for ways it can drive greener, lower-energy processes or higher-resolution prints.
R&D teams see triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate as a jumping-off point for next-gen materials. Every year, new publications pop up showing tweaks here—whether that’s swapping in a longer perfluoroalkyl tail or pairing the salt with novel photoinitiator cocktails. High-throughput screening has become common, allowing fine-tuning of molecular structure for specific wavelengths or improved contrast. Academics collaborate with chipmakers and resists suppliers, trying to eke out even tighter process controls. Some of the more exciting results link to hybrid organic-inorganic photoresists, which aim to keep pace with shrinking device size and stricter regulatory controls.
Concerns run deep around fluorinated materials—spill, waste, and worker exposure spark questions that require hard science. Toxicologists examine the fate and persistence of both the cation and the nonafluorobutanesulfonate anion. Studies in aquatic systems, cell lines, and environmental monitoring challenge suppliers to consider greener chemistries. In my own circles, most shops have shifted toward closed-system handling and beefed-up personal protective equipment protocols. The current science suggests limited acute toxicity compared to many process chemicals, but accumulation in nature and possible breakdown products keep the issue front and center. That’s pushed users to look for systems that limit releases and emphasize reclamation whenever possible.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate faces a bright future where demand for faster, denser chips and better coatings grows every quarter. But competition will come from newer, less persistent photoacid generators as industry pressure mounts to lower environmental footprints. Material scientists continue to tinker, hoping to deliver the razor-sharp features device makers crave, while regulators push for safer formulations. Whether sold under a new label or as part of an eco-million initiative, the compound’s core strengths—clean photolysis, strong acid generation, broad process window—won’t fade away soon. I see a path where innovation and responsibility go hand in hand, only possible if industry, academia, and policymakers keep sharing real-world data and solutions.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate plays a big role in the microchip industry. Folks in tech labs count on this compound as a photoacid generator — a key piece in photolithography, the process used to carve tiny circuit patterns onto silicon wafers. Every smartphone and computer processor owes its inner workings to chemicals like this. The compound absorbs high-energy light and releases acid. This acid changes the shape of certain materials so engineers can etch or develop intricate circuit traces just where they want them.
Chemistry students rarely hear about this stuff, but in clean rooms with filtered air and strict safety rules, exposing a silicon wafer to light wouldn’t work half as well without a strong photoacid generator. Triphenylsulfonium salts offer high sensitivity, so chipmakers achieve finer details on the wafer and speed up chip production. Using this specific compound helps lower the energy needed for that change, reducing electricity use in factories and making a dent, however small, in power bills — and, by extension, climate impact.
In the past, photolithography relied on older chemicals with questionable toxicity. Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate delivers similar power with a profile that fits modern safety requirements. It’s not perfect, but the fluorinated sulfonate part helps the compound stay stable and dissolve cleanly in specialty solvents, leading to fewer impurities in the end product.
People who handle this chemical have to deal with its irritant nature. Respiratory protection, chemical suits, and strictly followed safety procedures act as shields against accidental exposure. The semiconductor industry usually leads in safety practices because contamination and trace exposures both hurt yields and endanger the workforce.
Clean manufacturing depends heavily on chemicals that don’t hang around in groundwater or drift out of fume hoods in large quantities. The long perfluorinated tail in this molecule can stick around in the environment for ages, raising eyebrows among environmentalists and regulators. PFAS “forever chemicals” are under strong scrutiny by organizations like the EPA, which has led producers and recyclers to rethink how they handle and dispose of these chemicals.
Engineers and chemists keep looking for substitutes with similar reliability but biodegradable traits. Investing in research brings new options, but replacing something that delivers razor-sharp detail, speed, and reliability isn’t easy. This isn’t just a chemistry problem; it’s also a business and infrastructure puzzle.
Tech giants and chemical makers could partner with startups focused on green alternatives. Governments could support financially with targeted grants. High school programs teaching about the intersection of chemistry, sustainability, and computer science could attract new minds and move us closer to greener solutions. In fast-moving industries, even minor improvements mean better safety, smaller environmental footprints, and safer chips in everything from watches to supercomputers.
Solving the problems tied to triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate won’t happen overnight. Still, clear goals and steady improvements in both process and materials encourage everyone involved to challenge old habits and keep looking for cleaner, safer ways to build the technology people can trust.
A lot of specialty chemicals carry names that sound intimidating, and triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate is no exception. This compound pops up in certain high-tech manufacturing processes, such as microelectronics, mainly as a photoacid generator. For those who don’t spend their days in cleanrooms, this means it helps form tiny patterns on circuit boards by releasing acid when hit with light. Technical value aside, the bigger question for workers and managers is simple: Does this stuff pose a threat to health or safety, and if so, how risky is it?
Chemical safety comes down to reliable, experience-based information. Most safety data sheets point out that triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate isn’t known to be acutely toxic in the way that, say, cyanide or chlorine gas are. There hasn’t been a parade of alarming incidents or widespread cases of poisoning in workplaces using it as directed. Even so, calling it “safe” would skip over real concerns.
Every chemical can cause trouble if handled carelessly. This salt, like a lot of fluorinated compounds, can irritate skin, eyes, or lungs on contact. Dust or powder from the substance could make workers cough or develop rashes. Some reports discuss its mild toxicity when swallowed based on animal tests. Chronic exposure data remain thin — which to me always signals caution until more facts roll in.
Unlike everyday cleaning products, specialty chemicals often carry long names for good reason. They build complexity into their molecules that helps them deliver on the job but sometimes brings unexpected effects on health and the environment. No long-term studies tie triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate to cancer, birth defects, or obvious genetic harm, but few labs have even tried to look. That gray area should make anyone who manages a lab, plant, or research project pause and review their safety basics.
My own time in research taught me never to trust a chemical based on one read of a data sheet. Always double-check glove type and ventilation requirements every time a new batch comes in the door, especially with chemicals that contain lots of fluorines or strong acids.
Most companies using this compound already train staff to store and dispose of it through licensed hazardous waste providers. Inexperience often leads to shortcuts, which opens the door to mistakes and some of the worst accidents I’ve seen over the years.
Safety often breaks down when people ignore new research or fall behind on training. Supervisors and EH&S professionals can review workplace guidelines as new data comes out. Investing in ongoing education and regular refresher sessions helps prevent carelessness, which remains the real hazard in any chemistry workplace.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate doesn’t rank among the most hazardous chemicals. No one should take that as a green light to lower their guard. Keeping up to date, following established chemical hygiene practices, and sharing honest information about risks keep both workers and downstream users protected in the long run.
Anyone who's ever worked around specialty chemicals learns early on that not all powders, salts, or solutions play nice in a cluttered storeroom. Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate sits in that group. While it might not sound as dramatic as a bottle labeled "corrosive" or "explosive," mishandling this material hands over headaches far bigger than cleaning up a spilled bag of sugar.
There's real value in knowing why storage recommendations matter. Moisture, for example, sneaks up on you. Once a little vapor gets into a supposedly sealed jar, that compound may clump, break down or turn into something you didn’t want. I’ve seen suppliers ship these materials in amber glass bottles, tightly capped with extra wrapping. That isn’t overkill. Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate reacts with water—hydrolysis chips away at its chemical structure, wasting your stock and risking weird side products in your experiments.
Dry conditions are essential. A simple desiccator—something even a teaching lab can afford—works better than just tossing the container on a shelf. Growing up in labs, I watched senior chemists trust silica gel packets and tightly sealed pouches to keep out humidity. Storing this chemical near a door or under a leaky pipe means risking not just wasted money, but also unreliable results. Once, a forgotten container left in a humid storeroom failed a basic test run. Nothing ruins a day like lost time and confused data.
Lower temperatures help, too. Manufacturers urge keeping it at about 2–8°C. Don’t just throw it in any fridge—always use storage dedicated to chemicals, never shared with food or drinks. Sharing a refrigerator with lunch isn’t just a university lab thing; it can happen in small startups too. I’ve seen folks ruin months of work by skipping this step, only to find their sample compromised when they needed it most. Cold, dark, and dry—think of it as storing vintage film or rare seeds. You’re protecting potential, not just preventing spills.
One lesson echoed by safety officers and mentors: Label everything clearly. Whether it's the original packaging or a transferred container, use a date, name, and some hazard info. I've watched new technicians spend ages digging for context because someone scribbled half a label on a jar. Don’t leave questions on the shelf. State the date received, who opened it, and any special storage expectations. It saves more than time in an audit; it keeps everyone who walks into that space a bit safer.
Storage away from incompatible substances matters too. Strong acids, bases, or oxidizers shouldn’t breathe the same air as triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate. Incidents across labs and industry have shown how proximity between the wrong chemicals creates not just loss, but real danger.
So what helps in the real world? Training goes a long way. Even the best instructions mean little if they’re buried in a file. Regular, hands-on demos and quick refresher meetings matter. I’ve felt the difference between labs with good habits and those that only react when something goes wrong. Keeping stocks small reduces the risk if something fails. Always use the oldest material first, check for discoloration or clumping, and never assume last year’s jar is still good. When in doubt, ask—not just for compliance, but to protect everyone’s work and well-being.
Sometimes, chemistry sounds intimidating—especially when you run into a name like Triphenylsulfonium Nonafluorobutanesulfonate. Beneath the mouthful, this chemical plays a practical role in microelectronics and photolithography. People use it because it works well as a photoacid generator. To really understand why engineers and researchers trust this compound, it helps to roll up our sleeves and get to know what makes it tick. Structure and molecular weight are not just textbook details; they are what determine where, how, and why this chemical gets used.
Triphenylsulfonium Nonafluorobutanesulfonate features two main components. On one side sits the cation: triphenylsulfonium. Picture three benzene rings (phenyl groups) all linked to a single sulfur atom, which has a positive charge. On the other, the anion: nonafluorobutanesulfonate. This one has a four-carbon chain, all those carbons covered with nine fluorine atoms, capped off by a sulfonate group carrying a negative charge.
There’s a kind of balance here—one big, aromatic chunk paired with a heavily fluorinated, highly electronegative tail. Having handled similar compounds in research, I’ve learned that these fluorine-saturated groups often change how a molecule behaves under heat, light, or in various solvents. Fluorine atoms make a molecule less likely to react with water or acids. That makes the salt sturdier and less likely to break down where other compounds would fizzle out.
If you want to calculate the molecular weight, you need to add up the atomic weights of every single atom in the molecule. For triphenylsulfonium, you have C18H15S+, and for the nonafluorobutanesulfonate anion, that’s C4F9SO3-. Summing it all up gives you a molecular weight very close to 652.38 g/mol. This kind of precise number matters a lot in the lab, where every milligram counts, and when you’re mixing chemicals at scale, small errors grow fast.
By matching weight and structure to each application, people optimize manufacturing. There’s a reason it’s in demand for making microchips and other electronics—it’s all about how the chemical structure creates the perfect storm of sensitivity and stability during various etching and imaging steps.
People designing advanced materials know a little tweak in structure or a slight difference in molecular weight can mean sticking together or falling apart during wafer production. I’ve seen work grind to a halt over misunderstood formulations. Knowing exactly what you’re working with isn’t just chemistry trivia; it keeps factories humming, waste down, and reliability up.
That’s why robust sources, rigorous standards, and detailed certificates of analysis carry so much weight. Nobody wants to start a reaction only to realize they got the wrong salt or the formulation isn’t pure enough for critical processes. Manufacturers who share detailed structural data and purity grades tend to earn more trust, especially when new applications demand ever-tighter tolerances.
Down the line, handling complicated molecules with heavy fluorination will keep challenging researchers. Environmental concerns over fluorinated byproducts crop up regularly. Thoughtful design can help by swapping out troublesome groups for safer ones or by engineering processes with full recovery and recycling. Continued research and clear information-sharing across chemical suppliers and users will help limit surprises, lower risk, and keep both people and the environment safer.
Triphenylsulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate sounds like something only researchers would know about, and they're mostly the crowd looking for it. Most people turn to chemical suppliers that focus on advanced materials for fields like microelectronics or photolithography. You won’t usually see this name on a digital storefront next to household cleaners. Common suppliers like Sigma-Aldrich, TCI, Alfa Aesar, or Fisher Scientific stock it—but they ask for details about your lab or my credentials before discussing prices or shipping.
Buying this compound for actual research or industrial use means going through some paperwork and compliance hoops. Trusted suppliers ask for documentation if the material could touch anything outside a controlled lab. Depending on where you live, a government agency could hold up the order until everything checks out.
I’ve looked through enough catalogue data sheets to see a pattern: purity for this kind of salt hovers between 98% and 99%. If you see lower numbers, that's a red flag, and anyone using it for photoresist formation in semiconductor work would reject it. Even small impurities can disrupt photoinitiator performance, which means ruined wafers and lost hours in cleanrooms. Some top suppliers provide the higher end of that range, with batch-to-batch variation spelled out in accompanying certificates.
It’s worth agreeing early on purity expectations with your supplier. For folks in microelectronics, failing to check means an entire process step risks contamination, raising yields issues that show up only in late-stage quality checks. Even in less sensitive industries, surprise contamination makes troubleshooting hard, since process technicians can waste days hunting down mysterious failures.
Complex compounds like this don’t flow freely across borders. In my experience, export and import paperwork for laboratory-grade substances frustrates even seasoned purchasing teams. Material safety data sheets, reach compliance certifications, and hazardous abstraction labeling are the norm. Don’t gloss over this—an order can sit unshipped for weeks after payment clears if something in the supply chain isn’t right.
Labs sometimes try to save money by looking for alternate sources, sometimes in India or China, chasing lower prices. I learned the hard way that “cheap” often translates to inconsistent results, and repeat orders from the same manufacturer can produce slightly different analytical outcomes. Chemicals certified to 99% cost a premium but help avoid failed experiments and wasted resources.
If a job depends on precision—whether developing photopolymers or running proof-of-concept tests—it’s better to spend extra than explain why another batch didn’t meet spec. A good supplier won’t just ship product; they’ll answer technical questions outright, share past customer problems, and sometimes offer small-scale samples. This real-world back-and-forth beats chasing paperwork or redoing experiments because of hidden contaminants.
Having a dependable point of contact at a chemical supplier changes the experience. Fast answers replace days of email lag, and last-minute certificate requests don’t stall production. Conversations with people who’ve solved similar material sourcing issues can shortcut headaches. If you’re new to buying specialty photoinitiators, ask others in your industry where they’ve found reliable stock.
Everyone working with high-purity photoinitiators has a story of a “good deal” gone bad, sparking a lesson in scrutiny. For many, purity trumps price, and transparency makes the difference between lost time and smooth lab work.
| Names | |
| Preferred IUPAC name | Triphenylsulfonium 1,1,2,2,3,3,4,4,4-nonafluorobutane-1-sulfonate |
| Other names |
Triphenylsulfonium nonaflate Triphenylsulfonium perfluorobutanesulfonate TPS nonaflate Tris(phenyl) sulfonium nonafluorobutanesulfonate |
| Pronunciation | /traɪˌfiː.nɪl.sʌlˈfəʊ.ni.əm ˌnəʊ.nəˌflʊə.rəˈbjuː.teɪn.sʌlˈfəʊ.neɪt/ |
| Identifiers | |
| CAS Number | 344562-80-7 |
| Beilstein Reference | 79568 |
| ChEBI | CHEBI:81898 |
| ChEMBL | CHEMBL1907611 |
| ChemSpider | 26287736 |
| DrugBank | DB11322 |
| ECHA InfoCard | ECHA InfoCard 100.120.224 |
| EC Number | 412-030-5 |
| Gmelin Reference | 80957 |
| KEGG | C20082 |
| MeSH | D020239 |
| PubChem CID | 135441262 |
| RTECS number | VA1250000 |
| UNII | GMZ4UAP91B |
| UN number | UN3077 |
| Properties | |
| Chemical formula | C18H15S·C4F9SO3 |
| Molar mass | 748.48 g/mol |
| Appearance | white to off-white powder |
| Odor | Odorless |
| Density | 1.51 g/cm³ |
| Solubility in water | Slightly soluble |
| log P | -2.7 |
| Vapor pressure | 8.3E-7 Pa (25 °C) |
| Acidity (pKa) | Acidity (pKa): -6.0 |
| Basicity (pKb) | -5.8 |
| Refractive index (nD) | 1.640 |
| Viscosity | 350 cP (25 °C) |
| Dipole moment | 3.72 D |
| Hazards | |
| Main hazards | Causes skin irritation. Causes serious eye irritation. May cause respiratory irritation. |
| GHS labelling | GHS02, GHS07 |
| Pictograms | GHS05,GHS07 |
| Signal word | Warning |
| Hazard statements | H317, H319, H411 |
| Precautionary statements | P261, P264, P271, P272, P273, P280, P302+P352, P305+P351+P338, P321, P332+P313, P362+P364, P337+P313, P391, P501 |
| NFPA 704 (fire diamond) | 3-1-1-ox |
| Flash point | > 122.1 °C |
| LD50 (median dose) | LD50 (median dose): > 5000 mg/kg (rat, oral) |
| NIOSH | GV0475000 |
| PEL (Permissible) | There is no PEL (Permissible Exposure Limit) established for Triphenylsulfonium Nonafluorobutanesulfonate. |
| REL (Recommended) | Not established |
| Related compounds | |
| Related compounds |
Triphenylsulfonium triflate Triphenylsulfonium hexafluorophosphate Triphenylsulfonium chloride Triphenylsulfonium tetrafluoroborate Triphenylsulfonium bromide |
