• DOI:10.1007/S12678-011-0055-0
• Corpus ID: 93344222

Surface Modifications of a Carbon Anode Catalyst by Control of Functional Groups for Vitamin C Fuel Cells

@article{Kim2011SurfaceMO,
  title={Surface Modifications of a Carbon Anode Catalyst by Control of Functional Groups for Vitamin C Fuel Cells},
  author={Ye Eun Kim and Miyoung Kim and Jae Kwang Lee and Sunghyun Uhm and Gon Seo and Jaeyoung Lee},
  journal={Electrocatalysis},
  year={2011},
  volume={2},
  pages={200-206}
}

• Ye Eun Kim, Miyoung Kim, +3 authors Jaeyoung Lee
• Published 17 May 2011
• Materials Science
• Electrocatalysis

We report that electro-oxidation treatment of carbon paper generates specific functional groups, and controllable coating of metal oxide films on carbon surface alters capacitive behaviors. Electrochemical characteristics, I–V curves in fuel cells, and a structural analysis of XPS represent that the carboxyl group is the most effective functional group in an electro-oxidation of L-ascorbic acid. The appropriate film thickness of titania on electro-oxidized carbon electrode further increases fuel cell performance and electrostatic capacitance by facilitating electron transfer reaction. An excessive amount of titania on carbon reduces contribution of carboxyl groups to electro-oxidation of L-ascorbic acid resulting in decline of catalytic effects since they prohibit L-ascorbic acid molecules from access to the adsorption sites on the carbon surface.