Preparation and Photoelectrocatalytic Performance of Ti/PbO2 Electrodes Modified with Ti4O7

The Ti4O7 modified Ti/PbO2 electrodes have been prepared by electrodeposition, and investigated systemically using scanning electron microscope (SEM), Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL), and degradation of anthraquinone dye (reactive brilliant blue KN-R: C22H16N2Na2O11S3). It is found that the Ti4O7 modified Ti/PbO2 electrodes possessed smaller PbO2 crystal grains, good porous structure, enhanced oxygen evolution over-potential and higher electrical conductivity, as compared to that of Ti/PbO2 electrode. Additionally, the Ti4O7 modified Ti/PbO2 electrode exhibited also longer accelerated lifetime, and higher photoelectrocatalytic activity for degradation of anthraquinone dye (reactive brilliant blue KN-R) than that of Ti/PbO2 electrode. The enhancement of the decolorization efficiency and stability for Ti4O7 modified Ti/PbO2 electrodes can be ascribed to the large electrochemical active areas, the presence of photoelectric synergism, rapid separation of photogenerated carriers, inhibition of oxygen precipitation, high current efficiency for formation of hydroxyl radicals, and the weakening of internal stress in PbO2 coatings.