Estimation of the spatial distribution of carbon edge sites in a carbon structure using H2 desorption kinetics in temperature programmed desorption

This study aims to elucidate the role of hydrogen desorption profiles obtained through temperature programmed desorption (TPD) analysis of carbon materials for revealing their carbon edge sites. Accordingly, the H2 desorption profiles of several carbon materials, such as activated carbon, carbon black, reduced graphene oxide (rGO), phenol resin carbon, graphite, high-temperature treated carbon, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs), were investigated. The kinetic analysis of the profiles revealed that H2 desorption is a second-order reaction initiated by the association of edge hydrogen. Furthermore, the relationship between the total number of edge hydrogens in a sample and the peak temperature of H2 desorption represents the spatial distribution of edge hydrogens in the carbon structure. Additionally, most of the activated carbons, carbon blacks, and rGOs exhibited a uniform distribution of edge hydrogen throughout their carbon structures. In contrast, the edge hydrogen in graphite, high-temperature treated carbon, and CNTs were heterogeneously distributed throughout their structures.