Polar interactions at carbon surfaces described by the Dubinin equations and by an XPS-based model

The interaction of polar molecules at carbon surfaces is briefly reviewed within the framework of the Dubinin theory. A linear relationship is observed between the term a(0) of the Dubinin-Serpinski equation and heats of immersion calculated from equilibrium isotherms for water vapour adsorption by a series of microporous carbons with increasing polarities. A quantitative relationship is proposed between surface polarity, characterised by the spectroscopically measured surface oxygen concentration [O](T) and calorimetric heat of immersion in water for a series of non-porous carbon blacks.