The growing need for sustainable methods of producing hydrogen peroxide (H$_2$O$_2$) has prompted the search for alternative electrocatalysts to replace expensive noble metal-based catalysts. In this thesis, we investigated the effect of heteroatom doping on the electrochemical performance of commercial Vulcan XC72 carbon in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Our main goal was to optimize the material for highly selective H$_2$O$_2$ production. The samples were doped with nitrogen by heat treatment with ammonia and with oxygen by ozonation. Analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) confirmed that the surface properties of the carbon had been successfully modified. Electrochemical measurements showed that the samples treated with ozone exhibited high selectivity for the 2-electron pathway, making them extremely suitable for H$_2$O$_2$ production. Samples treated with ammonia, on the other hand, proved to be more suitable for applications in supercapacitors. The research confirmed that even a very stable carbon material such as Vulcan XC72 can be successfully modified and its properties targeted for different applications.
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