Influence of the Additives and the Process Parameters on the Electrocatalytic Activity of Ruthenium Based Mixed Oxide Electrodes

SUMMARY

Ti-supported electrodes of nominal composition (Ru-αM)O₂/Ti (α = 0,0,3,0,5,0,7; M is Sn, Al, V, Ce. Nb. Y) have been investigated for the optimisation of chlorine evolution. The results showed that the composition of the catalytic coating, the ratio between its contents of conducting and inert oxides, and the preparation parameters strongly influenced the electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes. SnO₂, Al₂O₃ or VO², respectively, combined with RuO², provided a good electrocatalytic activity when these electrodes were heat-treated in appropriate environments. In particular, when the electrodes (Ru-0.7V)O₂/Ti were thermally decomposed in argon, the catalytic activity was increased by 30% compared with decomposition in oxygen, and 100% compared with in air.