Fabrication and Electrochemical Treatment Application of A Novel Lead Dioxide Anode with Superhydrophobic Surfaces, High Oxygen Evolution Potential, and Oxidation Capability

Abstract

A novel PbO₂ electrode with a high oxygen evolution potential (OEP) and excellent electrochemical oxidation performance is prepared to improve the traditional PbO₂ electrode, which is modified by changing the microstructure and wetting ability. A middle layer of TiO₂ nanotubes (NTs) with a large surface area is introduced on Ti substrate, and a small amount of Cu is predeposited at the bottom of TiO₂−NTs. The modification will improve the electrochemical performance by enhancing the loading capacity of PbO₂ and the combination between PbO₂ and Ti substrate. The hydrophilic surface becomes highly hydrophobic by adding fluorine resin. The improved PbO₂ electrode exhibits a similar morphology, surface wetting ability, high OEP, and electrochemical performance with boron-doped diamond film (BDD) electrode. However, the physical resistance of the PbO₂ electrode is much lower than that of BDD, exhibiting higher conductivity. The hydroxyl radical utilization is significantly enhanced, resulting in a higher oxidation rate and higher removal for 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid.