Characterization of oxidized reticulated vitreous carbon electrode for oxygen reduction reaction in acid solutions

The oxidation of reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) and its impact on the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in H₂SO₄ solutions has been studied. The results are compared with that of a planar glassy carbon (GC) electrode. The oxidation process was characterized by using different electrode configurations, GC (planar) and RVC electrodes both with flooded (batch process) and flow-through assembly. Cyclic voltammetry, potentiodynamic and rotating ring-disk electrode voltammetry were used for the characterization of the ORR. Anodically oxidized GC and flooded RVC are similar in that the ORR on both electrodes gave a more defined limiting current plateau. For the flow-through porous electrode, the oxidation process caused a distribution of the oxidation extent within the bed thickness, as evident from the SEM images, and only about half of the porous electrode was utilized in the oxidation process. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements confirmed the above distribution and a gradient of the oxygen-to-carbon ratio was obtained within the porous bed. Oxidation of RVC led to an enhancement of its electrocatalytic properties towards ORR. H₂O₂ production was tested at the oxidized RVC from flowing acid solutions. The oxidation of RVC resulted in higher current efficiencies and higher outlet concentrations of the H₂O₂ acid solutions.