Comparative study on the effects of different structural Ti substrates on the properties of SnO2 electrodes

Abstract

To investigate the influence of substrate structure on the properties of titanium-based tin oxide electrodes, Ti/SnO2 with porous titanium, planar titanium, titanium mesh, and titanium-copper alloy as substrates was prepared by a thermal decomposition method. Electrodes were characterized and tested by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical techniques, and accelerated life tests. The surface morphology, phase composition, electrochemical performance, and service life of the electrodes were studied and analysed. With phenol as the target pollutant, the effects of different substrates on the electrocatalytic degradation performance of the electrodes were investigated. The porous Ti/SnO2-Sb-La electrode prepared by the porous titanium substrate has finer surface grains and a larger specific surface area. The phenomena of “cracking” and “agglomeration” are obviously improved. At the same time, the oxygen evolution potential increased to 2.09 V, and the membrane impedance decreased to 5.722 Ω. The degradation experiment of simulated phenol wastewater reveals that the porous Ti/SnO2-Sb-La electrode has the highest phenol degradation rate of 90.8% and a removal rate of COD of 79.9% within 120 min. Additionally, the porous Ti/SnO2-Sb-La electrode has the longest accelerated service lifetime of 105 min, which is 5 times that of the planar Ti/SnO2-Sb-La electrode. It can be seen from the experimental results that the electrode prepared by using the novel porous titanium as the matrix has obvious electrochemical performance, service life and current utilization efficiency advantages in the degradation process. At the same time, it is further proved that the electrode substrate has a significant effect on the electrode performance in the electrochemical treatment of phenol-containing water.