Preparation and Photoelectrochemical Property of PbO₂-TiO₂Nanocomposite Electrodes

Abstract

PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes were prepared by the electrodeposition method in the lead nitrate solution containing TiO 2 nanoparticles. The influences of TiO 2 concentration, current density and stirring rate on the weight percentage (wt%) of TiO 2 nanoparticles in the PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes were investigated. TiO 2 content in the PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes reaches 8.79 wt% from lead nitrate solution containing 8 g L −1 TiO 2 nanoparticles with current density at 30 mA cm −2 and stirring rate at 120 rpm. The morphology and structure of PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes were characterized by scanning electrons microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes are finer and more compact than PbO 2 electrodes. The service life of PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes reaches 149 h, which is four times longer than that of PbO 2 electrodes. The photoelectrochemical property of PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes was investigated by linear sweep voltammogram (LSV), photocurrent response (PCR) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) under UV irradiation. The results show that PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes possess remarkable photocurrent response under UV irradiation. The MB and COD removal efficiency reaches 98.5% and 70.7% by photoelectrocatalytic degradation after 120 min, the degradation process follow the first-order reaction kinetics. The results demonstrate that PbO 2 -TiO 2 nanocomposite electrodes are promising photoelectrocatalytic anode materials.In recent years, TiO 2 particles have been successfully used as photocatalyst to treat organic pollutants. 1-4 However, there are two obvious shortcomings in actual application: first is that TiO 2 particles are difficult to separate from aqueous solution when the photocatalytic reaction is carried out in the TiO 2 suspension system; second is the low quantum yield due to the rapid recombination of photo generated holes and electrons. 5,6 To solve these problems, TiO 2 particles can be immobilized on the electrode and the electrochemically assisted photocatalysis could be realized by means of the external electric field, which solves the problem of TiO 2 recovery and low quantum efficiency. PbO 2 electrodes possess high electrical conductivity, good stability and are easily obtained at a low cost. 7-9 In addition, the electrodes possess relatively high electrocatalytic ability in the degradation process of organic pollutants. 10-14 PbO 2 electrodes can immobilize TiO 2 particles to obtain PbO 2 -TiO 2 composite electrodes by anodic electrodeposition in the lead nitrate plating bath containing TiO 2 particles. Recently, A.B. Velichenko et al 15-17 has prepared PbO 2 -TiO 2 composite electrodes, the results show that the life-time of PbO 2 -TiO 2 composite electrodes is twice as long as that of PbO 2 electrodes. 18 Li et al 19 studied the electrochemically assisted photocatalytic degradation of acid orange 7 using β-PbO 2 electrodes modified by TiO 2 , the TiO 2 modified β-PbO 2 ...

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