Electrochemical exfoliation in real time of natural graphite deposited onto glassy carbon. Doping and modifying carbons through ultra-thin graphite layers

Abstract

Natural graphite, deposited onto smooth glassy carbon, when reduced (around −2V vs. Ag/AgCl) in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salts (TAAX) in aprotic polar solvents, leads to spectacular exfoliation processes followed in real time in the course of voltammetric scans. The method permits to get extraordinary stable modified carbon surfaces, with quite simple voltammetric responses (1 to 4 reversible cathodic steps) that strongly depend on the nature of the cations used. Those cathodic steps exhibit currents quasi perfectly proportional to the scan rate. It is expected the formation of a graphene-like substrate. Surface modifications both by ferrocene and anthraquinone could underline the originality of those new materials.