Oxidation of toluene on Bi-doped PbO2 studied by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and UV spectrophotometry

Abstract

Oxidation of organics in the potential region of O2 evolution is supposed to proceed through the oxidation of water to hydroxyl radicals, which then may either be further oxidized to give molecular oxygen or interact with organic molecules in an oxygen transfer reaction. Therefore, the electrode material must ensure (1) the preferential adsorption of the organic compound, (2) the production of adsorbed hydroxyl radicals able to react with this compound in a selective oxidation reaction (with as little as possible oxygen evolution), and (3) a long-term stability. In the present paper, the oxidative decomposition of toluene in sulfuric acid solution on PbO2 coatings deposited on Ti substrate from acidic nitrate + fluoride baths containing Pb2+ and Bi3+ is investigated by voltammetry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and UV spectrophotometry. The chemical composition and structure of the catalytic coatings is characterized with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. The catalytic activity is estimated both from current density vs potential and polarization resistance vs potential plots using measurements on the same electrodes in sulfuric acid without toluene to eliminate the oxygen evolution reaction that proceeds in parallel to the oxidation of toluene. A skeletal reaction mechanism of the process is proposed to account for the steady-state and transient response of the catalytic electrodes during oxidation of toluene.