Changes in a glassy carbon surface by the cathodic generation of free alkyl radicals mediated by a silver-palladium catalyst

The formation of free alkyl radicals by catalysis by silver-palladium alloy used as a fine suspension in the electrolysis bath led to the one-electron cleavage of primary alkyl bromides and iodides. Similar cathodic reactions do also exist with substituted benzyl bromides. In the presence of a carbonaceous-based substrate, such generated alkyl radicals can induce an efficient addition reaction with carbon leading to huge surface changes. A spectacular ablation of the carbonaceous surface even seems to occur (special case of glassy carbon) when large electricity amounts are used, producing a substantial loss of electrode mass. When graphite is used as the cathode material, evidence for channel formation together with a large amount of exfoliation is noticed. Surface changes were noticeably found to be dependent on the amount of electrical charge injected into the system.