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Correlation of the Electrochemical Parameters of Carbon Fibre Treatment in Sulphuric Acid by Cyclic Voltammetry with the Created Functional Groups and Their Formation Mechanism

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Abstract

The unknown oxidative surface treatment of commercial carbon fibres, which raises difficulties in their application and research, the trend today and in the future to develop graphite-like carbonaceous materials for unconventional applications (e.g. to produce graphene), and the necessity to recycle carbon fibre products, all are approached with appropriate methodology. The latter is based on the further treatment of commercial carbon fibres by cyclic voltammetry under various electrochemical conditions, including the entire range of electrolyte concentrations from dilute to very concentrated sulphuric acid, in the potential range of -3 V to + 3 V and backwards. Characterisation methods such as XPS, SEM/EDS, and the Boehm titration technique are used to determine the electron acceptor/donor groups created on the carbon fibres. Three types of treated carbon fibres in H2SO4 are distinguished, (1) 1%, 5%, and 30% w/w, (2) 60% w/w, and (3) 96% w/w H2SO4, whereas for the last both cases, the carbon fibres after the 3rd cycle of treatment are overoxidised, suggesting the beginning of a degraded structure. For each concentration of H2SO4 and for each cycle of treatment: C–OH, C-O-C ≫ HBS (hydrogen bridge structure) ≫ COOH ≫ C = O. The mechanisms and formation reactions of functional groups created on carbon fibres during cyclic voltammetry treatment are also discussed in depth. Depending on the numerous application directions of carbon fibres, representative materials, such as carbon fibres treated with defined electrochemical conditions and having a preferred structure, can be chosen.

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  1. Department III “Materials Science and Engineering”, School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 9 Heroon Polytechiou str, 157 73, Zografou Campus, Greece

    Pantelitsa Georgiou & Johannis Simitzis

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Georgiou, P., Simitzis, J. Correlation of the Electrochemical Parameters of Carbon Fibre Treatment in Sulphuric Acid by Cyclic Voltammetry with the Created Functional Groups and Their Formation Mechanism. Electrocatalysis 13, 838–852 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12678-022-00758-y

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