Effect of bismuth doping on electrodeposition, physicochemical properties and electrocatalytic activity of lead dioxide electrodes

Abstract

The bismuth (Bi)-doped PbO2 electrodes were electrodeposited from a nitric plating solution containing Pb (II) and Bi (III) ions by varying the concentrations of Bi (III). Cyclic voltammetry was used to investigate the effect of Bi (III) ions on the kinetics of PbO2 electrodeposition. It is observed that increasing Bi (III) ions in the plating solution reduces the rate of nucleation or formation of PbO2 but does not change the process mechanism. X-ray diffraction confirms that the incorporation of bismuth results in an apparent β (301) texture. Scanning electron microscopic observation reveals that the size of the PbO2-deposit particles gradually decreases by several micrometers as the doping content of Bi (III) increases from 2 to 6 mM. Linear scanning voltammograms show that the oxygen overpotential on Bi-PbO2 is much higher than on undoped PbO2 electrodes. Electrochemical degradation of the target pollutant was performed, and HPLC analysis demonstrated that Bi doping significantly improves the electrocatalytic ability of PbO2 electrodes.