Tailoring the surface chemistry and porosity of activated carbons: Evidence of reorganization and mobility of oxygenated surface groups

An activated carbon with developed porosity and surface area (SBET = 2387 m2 g−1) was prepared by chemical activation and then oxidized with ammonium peroxydisulfate. The oxidation treatment destroyed mesopore walls leading to a severe surface area reduction. Specific thermal treatments were carried out in different portions of the oxidized sample to selectively remove the oxygenated surface complexes. The combination of different techniques revealed that thermal treatment between 300 and 500 °C produces a strong reorganization of oxygenated groups on the chemical structure of carbons. CO2-evolving groups (around 75 wt.%) are selectively transformed into CO-evolving groups. These processes only occur inside the pores, and involve CO2 desorption and re-adsorption in this temperature range. At a higher treatment temperature (700 °C), re-oxidation is prevented and the surface chemistry becomes quite similar to the original activated carbon.