Superior anodic oxidation in tailored Sb-doped SnO2/Ru-2 composite nanofibers for electrochemical water treatment

Abstract

Dimensionally stable RuO2 (RO)- and IrO2-based anodes have been widely used for electrochemical water treatment but alternative materials are required due to their well-recognized drawbacks such as highcost and low oxygen evolution potential. In an effort to minimize noble metal contents, we herein fabricated electrospun Sb-doped SnO2 (ATO)/RO composite nanofibers as new anode materials by controlling precursor ratios. These composite nanofiber anodes have one-dimensional nanostructure assembled with highly uniform ATO and RO nanoparticles and their oxygen evolution potential was successfully tailored by compositional change. The ATO/RO nanofiber anodes, even with a small amount of RO of 3% exhibited superior electrocatalytic performance in oxidative organic degradation; complete degradation of bisphenol A as a model substrate was achieved during 20 min-electrolysis on ATO/RO anodes at a low current density of 3 mA.cm(-2). This strategy provides the optimization of oxygen evolution reaction and current efficiency, resulting in excellent capability for electrochemical water treatment. (C) 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.