Chemical and Electrochemical Studies of Carbon Black Surface by Treatment with Ozone and Nitrogen Oxide

Abstract In this study it was investigated the surface chemistry of furnace carbon black (CB) particles after exposure to air-oxidative treatments, with ozone and nitric oxide respectively. The functional groups on the surface were determined by several complementary methods such as water up-take experiments in vapour saturated atmosphere, Boehm titrations and electrochemical methods. The treated carbon blacks were compared with two model references: one having high polarity and high specific surface area and another one having low-polar surface and graphitized structure. It was found that air-oxidative post-treatments induce formation of phenols, lactones and quinones and implicitly an increment in the electric capacitance. Moreover, the increment of the surface oxides is more pronounced after treatment with ozone, compared with the nitric oxide one.