How to improve lead dioxide anodes performance in organic wastewater treatment: Review and prospect

Lead dioxide (PbO₂) is a common anode for wastewater treatment in electrochemical oxidation studies thanks to its high oxygen evolution potential, great hydroxyl radical productivity, and low cost. There has been much research focusing on PbO₂ preparation and application from different perspectives in recent years. In this paper, with “PbO₂ degradation performance optimization” as the clue, electrode modification strategy and operation condition are systematically reviewed, together with the standard evaluation indexes of electrical and electrochemical properties for PbO₂. The electrodeposition processes can be divided into substrate and interlayer selection, electrodeposition bath adjustment, energy input modulation and new configuration introduction, impacting the catalytic activity and stability. Organic pollutants degradation is a significant application aspect of PbO₂. Four major influence factors in the electrochemical degradation process are discussed, including external circuit control, co-existing ions, solution physicochemical properties and reactor configuration. Other couplings and combination technologies are introduced based on electrochemical oxidation with PbO₂ anode. Further, the future research directions of PbO₂ anode in wastewater treatment are forecasted.