Elaboration and characterization of Fe/C-doped lead dioxide-modified anodes for electrocatalytic degradation of Reactive Yellow 14

Fe3+ and/or carbon black-doped Ti/PbO2 electrodes were successfully synthesized via electrodeposition technology. The morphology and crystal structure of the electrodes were characterized by Scanning Electron Microscopy coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDS) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD), respectively. Furthermore, Linear Sweep Voltammetry, Cyclic Voltammetry (CV), and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy tests were also performed to analyze the electrochemical performance of the electrodes. The electrocatalytic activity of electrodes was examined by electrocatalytic oxidation of Reactive Yellow 14 (RY14) azo dye's model pollutant. The SEM showed that the morphology and size of PbO2 particles are strongly affected by doping with Fe3+ and carbon black. The EDS confirmed the existence of Fe and C elements. The XRD patterns show that samples were composed of higher content of beta-PbO2. Ti/PbO2-0.1Fe (0.1 M Fe3+ + 0 g C) electrode exhibits the highest oxygen evolution potential (1.64 V/SCE). The CV test indicated that the presence of the anodic peak at 1.45 V/SCE means that the oxidation of RY14 dye was easily achieved on the surface of all prepared electrodes. The Nyquist plots show the presence of two semicircles, one in the high-frequency domain describes the electron transfer process, while the second in the low-frequency domain explains the adsorption of the intermediate. Ti/PbO2 and Ti/PbO2-0.1Fe electrodes showed the best performance on degradation of RY14.