MOF-derived ZrO2-C nanoparticles modified PbO2 electrode for high-efficiency electrocatalytic degradation of nitrophenolic compounds in wastewater

Abstract

Highly performed electrode possessed excellent electrocatalytic performance for electrochemical oxidation technology remains a huge challenge. Here, we prepared a durable metal–organic frameworks (MOF)-derived materials doped PbO2 electrode to improve the electrocatalytic performance and service life. The prepared UiO-66 derived ZrO2-C nanoparticles doped PbO2 composite electrode had more active sites, improved conductivity, higher hydroxyl radical (OH) generation capacity, and excellent stability. The composite PbO2 electrode with ZrO2-C nanoparticles doping amount of 4 g L-1 had the best electrocatalytic activity, and the 2, 4, 6-trinitrophenol (TNP) removal rate was up to 94.48% after 140 min of electrolysis, whereas that of pure PbO2 was only 68.33%. Besides, the degradation conditions were further optimized and the electrochemical oxidation degradation pathway of TNP was proposed. Thus, we can conclude that MOF-derived doped PbO2 anode has greater promising application potential in the electrocatalytic degradation of phenolic compounds in wastewater.