A study of the modification of glassy carbon and edge and basal plane highly oriented pyrolytic graphite electrodes modified with anthraquinone using diazonium coupling and solid phase synthesis and their use for oxygen reduction

•Carbon surfaces were modified by reaction of a Boc protected diazonium salt.•Upon removal of the Boc group, anthraquinone was coupled to the surface.•The modified surfaces catalyse the 2e reduction of O2 at pH 7.•The choice of GC, edge or basal HOPG surface does not affect the catalysis.