Abstract
Hydrophilic carbon clusters (HCCs) are oxidized carbon nanoparticles with a high affinity for electrons. The electron accepting strength of HCCs, employing the efficient conversion of superoxide (O2•-) to molecular oxygen (O2) via single-electron oxidation, was monitored using cyclic voltammetry and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. We found that HCCs possess O2 reduction reaction (ORR) capabilities through a two-electron process with the formation of H2O2. By comparing results from aprotic solvents to those obtained from ORR activity in aqueous media, we propose a mechanism for the origin of the antioxidant and superoxide dismutase mimetic properties of poly(ethylene glycolated) hydrophilic carbon clusters (PEG-HCCs).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 15086-15092 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 24 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - 22 Jun 2016 |
| Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2016 American Chemical Society.
Keywords
- antioxidant
- carbon nanoparticles
- oxidation
- oxygen reduction
- superoxide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- General Materials Science