Electrochemical attachment of organic groups to carbon felt surfaces

Electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts and oxidation of carboxylates on high surface felt electrodes permits functionalization of the surface of the felt. The functionalization has been ascertained by different methods including elemental analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, scanning mi croscopy/energy-dispersive spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy. The loadings which are obtained are of the same order of magnitude as those of commercia l ion-exchange resins or of resins used for combinatorial chemistry.