Surface oxidation and/or corrosion behavior of glass-like carbon in sulfuric and nitric acids, and in aqueous hydrogen peroxide

Abstract Surface oxidation and/or corrosion behavior of glass-like carbons (GLCs) in concentrated H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 and H 2 O 2 aq. were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and by weight changes. With GLCs treated in H 2 SO 4 , formation of sulfur-containing chemical species was observed, with some weight gain. However, no change was observed in morphology. With the samples treated in HNO 3 , the weight initially increased and, then, decreased. No nitrogen-containing chemical species were observed. Crack formation and scaling off of the upper layers were observed. With the samples treated in H 2 O 2 aq. , rapid weight loss and void formation were observed.