Surface studies on graphite: desorption of surface oxide

The kinetics of desorption of surface oxide as CO and CO2 from graphite have been followed, using a mass spectrometer system, allowing their activation energies of desorption to be measured as a function of the amount desorbed. After the initial degassing of the graphite, surface oxide was reformed by chemisorption at 298 K and 573 K, and oxygen pressures of 760 Torr and 0.2 Torr respectively. Similar analysis of the desorption kinetics of these oxides, formed under controlled conditions, has allowed a comparison of their desorption energetics to be made.