Quantifying Carbon Active Sites Chemisorbing Hydrogen on Oxygen Containing Activated Carbons during Heat Treatment in Hydrogen Atmosphere

Carbon edge sites have been widely studied because of their importance in surface reactivity and electronic properties. The surface chemistry of the carbon edge sites is relevant to various reactions, and carbon active sites are key topics in many applications. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) and temperature-programmed reaction (TPR) techniques are used to clarify the fate of oxygen atoms present as CO-yielding functional groups on the activated carbon during heat treatment in hydrogen with an argon balance atmosphere. It has been elucidated that CO is decomposed, H2O is released by a reduction reaction with atmospheric H-2, and CO2 is evolved by secondary reactions from the CO-yielding functional groups during TPR. Atmospheric H-2 consumption during TPR is observed and its rate is characterized. The amounts of carbon active sites are quantified by determining the amount of H-2 chemisorbed onto the carbon surfaces. Finally, it is quantitatively determined that the active sites that chemisorb hydrogen are generated after the decomposition of CO and CO2 caused by secondary reactions between ca. 700 and 1100 K from the CO-yielding functional groups. The origin of these CO-yielding functional groups is generally attributed to phenol/ether groups. In addition to these oxygen-containing functional group decompositions, some free sites on the edge sites are activated for H-2 chemisorption by heat treatment between ca. 700 and 1100 K.

Automated summary

Carbon edge sites play an important role in surface chemistry, and carbon active sites are key in many applications. Research has found that certain temperature ranges can result in the release of CO2 and H2O, generating active sites for hydrogen adsorption.