Fabrication and characterization of a PbO₂-TiN composite electrode by CO-deposition method

An excellent PbO₂ electrode with high electrocatalytic activity and stability was successfully fabricated by doping TiN particles through co-deposition method (marked as PbO₂-TiN). The morphology (SEM), crystalline structure (XRD), chemical state (XPS), electrochemical performances (CV and EIS) and stability (accelerated life test) were characterized. The results showed that TiN doping could obviously improve the surface morphology of the electrode, increase the electrode current response and reduce the electrode impedance. During the electrochemical oxidation process, the PbO₂-0.5TiN electrode showed the best performance on degradation of Acid Red G and Methylene blue (the highest removal efficiency, the lowest energy consumption and minimum Pb dissolution). The proportion of adsorbed hydroxyl oxygen for PbO₂-0.5TiN electrode was 78.75%, which was higher than that for PbO₂ electrode (68.95%). The accelerated service lifetime of PbO₂-0.5TiN electrode was 302 h, which was more than 3 times longer than that of PbO₂ electrode (96 h). Furthermore, a likely deactivation mechanism for lifetime enhancement of PbO₂-0.5TiN electrode was proposed.