New Electrodes Prepared from Mineral and Plant Raw Materials of Kazakhstan

Electrode materials were prepared from activated carbonizates of walnut shell, apricot pits and shungite rock from “Bakyrchik” deposit, East Kazakhstan. Physicochemical characteristics of the obtained samples were studied by the Brunauer-Emett-Taylor method, scanning electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and other methods. Electrochemical properties of the obtained materials were studied by the method of cyclic voltammetry. It was found that the samples have an amorphous structure. Samples based on plant raw materials after hydrothermal carbonization at 240 °С during 24 h, have more homogeneous and developed surface. Specific surface area of carbon containing materials based on apricot pits is 1300 m2/g, for those on the based on mineral raw material, it is 153 m2/g. It was shown that materials after hydrothermal carbonization can be used for catalytic purposes and electrodes after thermal carbonization for analytical and electrocatalytic purposes. Electrode obtained by HTC have electrocatalytic activity. CSC 240 has high background current (slope i/Е is 43 mА V–1 cm–2), low potential of the hydrogen electroreduction (more positive by ~ 0.5 V than samples based on plant raw materials). The reaction of DA determination is more pronounced on the electrodes obtained by HTC 240 °C, 24 h, due to the nature, carbon structure and high specific surface area of obtained samples.