Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq) ; Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP) ; Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) ; Processo FAPESP: 05/59992-6 ; Processo FAPESP: 08/58789-0 ; Processo FAPESP: 09/09145-6 ; Processo FAPESP: 09/07859-1 ; Processo FAPESP: 10/04539-3 ; Processo FAPESP: 07/04759-0 ; Processo FAPESP: 10/07831-7 ; A comparative study of two different conductive carbon-black pigments, Vulcan XC-72 R and Printex L6, for the electrogeneration of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) by reducing dissolved oxygen in an alkaline solution was performed. The materials were physically characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared attenuated total reflection (ATR-FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). XRD shows the presence of SO(2) and ATR-FTIR technique indicates a difference in NO and SO(2) functional groups between the two carbon pigments. XPS indicated presence of SO and NO and more oxygenated acid species on Printex L6. A rotating ring-disk electrode was used for electrochemical analysis of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The results showed that the Printex L6 was better than Vulcan XC-72 R for H(2)O(2) production. Results also indicate that the number of electrons transferred in the ORR for Printex L6 and Vulcan XC-72 R were 2.2 and 2.9, respectively, while the percentages of H(2)O(2) formed were 88% and 51%. Scanning electrochemistry microscopy images confirmed the higher amount of H(2)O(2) formed in the Printex L6 pigment. Printex L6 was shown to be a more promising for H(2)O(2) production than Vulcan XC-72 R, while the latter was shown to have more potential for fuel cells. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.