Preparation of cobalt–manganese-modified lead dioxide anodes and the study of their electrochemical performance in electrowinning copper

Abstract

The anode materials PbO2–MnO2, PbO2-CoOx, and PbO2–MnO2-CoOx, were prepared by anodic oxidation in the nitrate system. The microstructure and chemical composition of the anode materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electrochemical performance of the anode materials were studied by linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and Tafel polarization curves (Tafel). The results indicate that the coating of PbO2–MnO2-CoOx anode materials with a spherical structure, and the PbO2–MnO2 and PbO2-CoOx anode materials with a stacked pellet structure. Compared with PbO2, PbO2–MnO2, and PbO2-CoOx anodes, PbO2–MnO2-CoOx anodes have the maximum exchange current density (j0) values, the minimum charge transfer resistance (Rct) values, and minimum the self-corrosion current density (icorr) in electrowinning Copper solution. The cell voltage of Cobalt-containing Manganese anode material is lower than that of traditional Pb–Sn–Sb anode material, Indicating that the Cobalt-containing Manganese anode material is of practical value to reduce energy consumption.