Critical issues in the surface modification of active carbons by the Diels–Alder reaction

Active carbon surface modification by the Diels–Alder reaction is described. The complex nature of the method is discussed and it is shown that it may lead to misinterpretation of the results. Conclusions based on XPS, FTIR, TG/DTG and nitrogen adsorption investigations should help other researchers to make such a modification correctly. Surface modification of active carbons by the Diels–Alder reaction. [Display omitted] •Advanced chemical modification of the carbon surfaces.•Diels–Alder (D–A) cycloaddition of maleimide to the carbon surfaces.•Multidirectional characterization of the D–A modified carbon surfaces.•Discrimination between apparent and real D–A carbon surface modification.•An advise how to avoid mistakes in experimental data interpretation.