TY - JOUR

T1 - Surface Functionalization of Activated Carbon

T2 - Coupling of 3-(Aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane and (3-Glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane

AU - Pustahija, Lucija

AU - Bandl, Christine

AU - Alem, Sayed Ali Ahmad

AU - Kern, Wolfgang

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © 2024 by the authors.

PY - 2024/12/12

Y1 - 2024/12/12

N2 - This study aimed to functionalize the surface of activated carbon, and thus render the surface more hydrophilic and reactive. To attain this goal, sequential surface functionalization was carried out using (i) oxidation (pre-activation) and (ii) secondary functionalization. The carbon surface was pre-activated in an autoclave via solvothermal oxidation (i.e., wet oxidation) with nitric acid. Alternatively, plasma-assisted oxidation with a mixture of argon and oxygen (i.e., dry oxidation) was employed. A subsequent step included the reduction in formed carbonyl groups with LiAlH4. Following that, secondary functionalization was performed with 3-(aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) or (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), respectively. Changes in the surface composition of carbon after functionalization and morphology were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Oxidized carbon samples were successfully modified at their surfaces with APMTS and GPTMS, yielding Si content of 3.2 at. % and 1.9 at. % for wet-oxidized carbon and 5.1 at. % and 2.8 at. % for dry-oxidized carbon, respectively.

AB - This study aimed to functionalize the surface of activated carbon, and thus render the surface more hydrophilic and reactive. To attain this goal, sequential surface functionalization was carried out using (i) oxidation (pre-activation) and (ii) secondary functionalization. The carbon surface was pre-activated in an autoclave via solvothermal oxidation (i.e., wet oxidation) with nitric acid. Alternatively, plasma-assisted oxidation with a mixture of argon and oxygen (i.e., dry oxidation) was employed. A subsequent step included the reduction in formed carbonyl groups with LiAlH4. Following that, secondary functionalization was performed with 3-(aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTMS) or (3-glycidyloxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (GPTMS), respectively. Changes in the surface composition of carbon after functionalization and morphology were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, ATR-FTIR spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. Oxidized carbon samples were successfully modified at their surfaces with APMTS and GPTMS, yielding Si content of 3.2 at. % and 1.9 at. % for wet-oxidized carbon and 5.1 at. % and 2.8 at. % for dry-oxidized carbon, respectively.

KW - activated carbon

KW - APTMS

KW - GPTMS

KW - plasma-assisted oxidation

KW - reduction with LiAlH

KW - solvothermal oxidation

KW - surface functionalization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85213468735&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.3390/c10040104

DO - 10.3390/c10040104

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85213468735

VL - 10.2024

JO - C-Journal of Carbon Research

JF - C-Journal of Carbon Research

SN - 2311-5629

IS - 4

M1 - 104

ER -