Tuning edge-oxygenated groups on graphitic carbon materials against corrosion

Abstract

The carbon materials receive considerable attention, due to their wide application potentials in energy conversion and storage. Stemming from their low standard oxidation potential (0.207 V versus SHE), the carbon corrosion is thermodynamically favored. Hence, mitigating this unwelcomed phenomenon is of paramount importance, due to the subsequent deactivation or peeling off caused by carbon corrosion. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no systematically studied experiments on the stability of edge-oxygenated groups on graphitic carbon frameworks, since it is difficult to control the edges with unitary group by traditional strong oxidation method. Here, we adopt a pre-activated method to decorate the edges with targeted functional groups, such as (G)C–H, (G)C–OH, (G)C–O–C(G), (G)C–COO–C(G), (G)C–COOH. Our experiments and DFT calculations demonstrate that the in-plane etheric rings exhibit the highest stability against both electrochemical and chemical corrosions. The findings will be a guide to design carbon-based catalysts with high stability.