Fabrication and electrochemical treatment application of a novel lead dioxide anode with superhydrophobic surfaces, high oxygen evolution potential, and oxidation capability.

A novel PbO(2) electrode with a high oxygen evolution potential (OEP) and excellent electrochemical oxidation performance is prepared to improve the traditional PbO(2) electrode, which is modified by changing the microstructure and wetting ability. A middle layer of TiO(2) nanotubes (NTs) with a large surface area is introduced on Ti substrate, and a small amount of Cu is predeposited at the bottom of TiO(2)-NTs. The modification will improve the electrochemical performance by enhancing the loading capacity of PbO(2) and the combination between PbO(2) and Ti substrate. The hydrophilic surface becomes highly hydrophobic by adding fluorine resin. The improved PbO(2) 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 PbO(2) 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.