Fabrication, characterization and electrocatalytic application of a lead dioxide electrode with porous titanium substrate

• Published in: Journal of alloys and compounds 2015-11, Vol.650, p.705-711
• Main Authors: Zhang, Wenli, Kong, Haishen, Lin, Haibo, Lu, Haiyan, Huang, Weimin, Yin, Jian, Lin, Zheqi, Bao, Jinpeng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alloys; Dioxides; Electrocatalytic; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrodeposition; Electrodes; Lead dioxide; Porosity; Porous titanium; Scanning electron microscopy; Service life; Titanium; Voltammetry
• ISSN: 0925-8388; 1873-4669
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jallcom.2015.07.222

In this study, PbO2 electrode was prepared on porous Ti/SnO2–Sb2O5 substrate (denoted as 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode), and its electrochemical properties were investigated in detail. The electrodeposition mechanism of 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Scanning electron microscope (SEM) result showed that the 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode possessed porous structure when it was electrodeposited for time less than 30 min. The 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode prepared for 10 min had more active sites than the lead dioxide electrode electrodeposited on planar titanium substrate (denoted as 2D-Ti/PbO2 electrode) and its electrochemical porosity is about 54%. The embedded structure between porous Ti/SnO2–Sb2O5 substrate and PbO2 coating increased the stability of 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode. The service life of 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode was about 350 h which was much longer than 2D-Ti/PbO2 electrode. What's more, 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode had better electrocatalytic activity towards phenol degradation than 2D-Ti/PbO2 electrode. [Display omitted] •3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode was prepared on a porous titanium substrate.•The electrochemical active surface area was investigated.•The activity of 3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode towards phenol oxidation was investigated.•3D-Ti/PbO2 electrode shows superior electrocatalytic activity.