Preparation and characterization of manganese dioxide electrodes for highly selective oxygen evolution during diluted chloride solution electrolysis

Electrolysis of aqueous chloride solutions led to oxygen evolution reaction when using a prepared highly selective electrode. The evolution efficiency reached over 90 %. The anode electrode was prepared by modification of a conventional dimensionally stable anode (DSA) through surface covering with manganese dioxide. The result of this modification was an unusual change in the behavior of chlorine-hydrogen oxygen-hydrogen cells under diluted chloride solution electrolysis. This system satisfies the kinetic conditions of the chlorine evolution reaction (CER). The efficiency and physical properties of the electrode were characterized using cyclic voltarnmetry and partial polarization curves. The surface structure and morphology of the electrode were characterized using SEM and STM. In the absence of chlorine adsorption, the electrode surface containing MnO2 particles had an even distribution of MnO2 particles on the surface and particularities of its morphology. This morphology resulted in the low selectivity of this electrode for the chlorine evolution reaction.