Effect of graphene surface functionalization on the oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

Two types of few-layer graphene structures with different degrees of doping with nitrogen and with close surface concentrations of carbonyl groups were synthesized using the electrochemical exfoliation of graphite in the cathodic plasma mode. As for the concentrations of oxygen-containing functional groups and doping nitrogen atoms, pyridine N atoms make a dominating contribution to the electrocatalysis of oxygen reduction reaction on the synthesized structures.