Electrocatalytic Effect of IrO₂-Ta₂O₅|Ti and RuO₂-Ta₂O₅|Ti during the Electrochemical Degradation of Phenol

Abstract

Titanium electrodes coated by transition metal oxides have shown a large number of applications, thus being the subject of constant research and improvement. One of the most important applications for this type of electrodes is the electro-generation of hydroxyl radicals ( • OH) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) via catalytic water oxidation to the electrochemical degradation of organic compounds, as phenol (Phen). Looking for improving the electrochemical performance of IrO 2 -Ta 2 O 5 |Ti and RuO 2 -Ta 2 O 5 |Ti electrodes and also provide a better understand about their electrochemical behavior at an interfacial approach, this investigation was focused to compare the electro catalytic removal efficiency of Phen using different Ir:Ta and Ru:Ta ratios at the coating (70:30 and 30:70) by the generation of • OH and H 2 O 2 in acid conditions (H 2 SO 4 ).