Intercalation of ClO₄^- into HOPG Investigated by EC-STM

Authors

Xiao-yan HU, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China;
Alice ALIWOWE, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China;
Jia-wei YAN, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China;
Bing-wei MAO, State Key Laboratory of Physical Chemistry of Solid Surfaces, Department of Chemistry, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005, Fujian, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Bing-wei MAO(bwmao@xmu.edu.cn)

Abstract

The electrochemical intercalation and surface morphology of highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) electrode in 2 mol•L^-1 HClO₄ were studied by in situ scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and cyclic voltammetry (CV). Based on the step-height changes observed before and after the intercalation, the effects of different step sites on intercalation are compared. The feasibility, reversibility and speed of intercalation are discussed. The intercalation of ClO₄^- into HOPG can be divided into three types depending on the number of graphite layers at the step site: When the layers of graphite are more than three, the intercalation becomes feasible; when the layers of graphite are four to eight, the intercalation can take place reversibly; However, when the graphite layers are one or two only, the intercalation cannot be observed because of the required high potential at which drastic oxidation reaction occurs concurrently. Exfoliation and etching of HOPG are the main morphological changes in this situation.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

graphite intercalation compound, HClO4, anion intercalation, electrochemical scanning tunnelling microscopy

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.150715

Publication Date

2015-12-23

Online Available Date

2015-08-18

Revised Date

2015-08-16

Received Date

2015-07-14

Recommended Citation

Xiao-yan HU, Alice ALIWOWE, Jia-wei YAN, Bing-wei MAO. Intercalation of ClO₄^- into HOPG Investigated by EC-STM[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2015 , 21(6): 560-565.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.150715
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol21/iss6/8