Effect of method for thermoexfoliated graphite preparation on electrochemical reduction of molecular oxygen

Oxygen reduction reaction was used for ascertainment of presence of quinone-type groups on the thermoexfoliated graphite (TEG) surface. The investigation of surface structure of TEG prepared of intercalated with sulphuric acid compounds of natural graphite was carried out by XPS technique. The intercalated compounds were prepared by chemical and electrochemical methods. It have been shown that oxygen content on the surface of TEG prepared of graphite hydrosulphate synthesized by chemical method (I) was 2.5 higher then that of TEG prepared of graphite hydrosulphate synthesized by electrochemical method (II). The oxygen reduction reaction was occurred on electrodes of TEG (II) only. That showed to presence of electrochemical inert groups on the surface of TEG (I) and of quinone-type groups on the surface of TEG (II).