Formation and Characterization of Dispersed Mixed Iron-titanium Oxide Systems by Electrochemical Method

Abstract

Aims: Anodic polarization behavior of a combined iron-titanium electrode (two metals in electrical contact with each other) in aqueous solutions containing halide ions (F- and Cl-) was studied. Methods: he joint anodic dissolution of titanium and iron with subsequent thermal treatment makes it possible to obtain precursors of a highly dispersed mixed oxide system Fe2O3-TiO2. The phase and elemental composition and structural characteristics of obtained products were examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. It has been experimentally confirmed that via changing the anode current density, hydrofluoric acid concentration in electrolyte and ratio of the working surface area of contacting metals, it is possible to effectively control the rate of anodic reactions and phase composition and morphology of anodic oxidation products for iron and titanium components in a combined electrode. Results: The main results of this study are as follows: Electrochemical method for the synthesis of complex dispersed oxide system Fe2O3-TiO2 based on joint anodic oxidation of contacting metals in aqueous media was suggested. Relationships between parameters of the electrochemical process and characteristics of the synthesized oxide system were revealed. Conclusion: By varying the parameters of the electrolysis process, it is possible to prepare complex oxyhydroxides with different ratios of iron and titanium, which makes it possible to synthesize precursors of iron titanates of preset composition and structure.