AN INNOVATIVE Ti/TiO₂ MESH PHOTOELECTRODE FOR METHYL ORANGE PHOTOELECTROCATALYTIC DEGRADATION

ABSTRACT

A new type of photoelectrode was innovated by anodising titanium mesh in H₂SO₄ solution and named Ti/TiO₂ mesh electrode. The structural and surface morphology of the Ti/TiO₂ mesh was examined by X-ray diffraction, Laser Raman spectra and scanning electronic microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that its crystal structure, morphology and the size of pore were affected greatly by the anodisation voltage, current density. The photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) oxidation of methyl orange (MO) solution using the Ti/TiO₂ mesh was investigated. The results demonstrated that Ti/TiO₂ mesh prepared at 160V and 110 mA cm⁻² had the best PEC activity. The PEC oxidation efficiency could be significantly enhanced by applying an optimal electrical bias voltage between the working electrode and counter electrode. It was found that the best performance of PEC oxidation was achieved by applying an electrical bias of 0.6 V. It is suggested that the recombination of electrons and holes was hindered owing to applying electrical bias voltage.

Keywords:

• Titanium dioxide photoelectrode
• Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation
• Mechanism
• Methyl orange

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Guangdong Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment Integrated Control Foundation Project; Guangdong EPA Scientific Development Project (2000-06); Guangdong Natural Science Foundation Project (010151).