Influence of progressive surface oxidation of nitrogen-containing carbon on its electrochemical behaviour in phosphate buffer solutions

The effects of the nitric acid surface oxidation of nitrogen-containing carbons (SCN-type) on the chemical structure as well as the electrochemical properties of powdered electrodes prepared from them were studied. The oxidation efficiency was dependent on the duration of the oxidative modification. The surface chemistry was characterized using standard neutralization techniques and spectroscopic methods (FTIR and XPS). Electrochemically active surface groups obtained on carbon materials during oxidation were investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Some noteworthy relations between the electrochemical activity of carbon electrode material and the degree of surface oxidation are reported.