Effect of Current Density on Preparation and Properties of TF/β-PbO₂ in MSA Media

The lead-based alloy and DSA anodes have drawbacks, such as poor corrosion resistance, easy peeling of coating, low electrocatalytic activity, and environmental pollution in electrode preparation processes. In this study, titanium foam/β-PbO₂ (TF/β-PbO₂) was prepared by electrodeposition in methanesulfonic acid (MSA) media. The current efficiency and the deposition rate were 89.7% and 5.36 v/(μm·min^-1) at the best current density of 80 mA·cm^-2, respectively. The TF/β-PbO₂ was characterized by electrochemical tests, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The cyclic voltammetry (CV) test shows that the anodic peak potential of the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ was as low as 2.135 V and anodic voltammetry charge was up to the maximum value of 3.564 × 10^-2 C. The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) test indicates that exchange current density of the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ reached the maximum value of 8.284 × 10^-6 A·cm^-2. CV and LSV tests indicate that the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ had a high electrocatalytic activity. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy test Tafel polarization curves show that the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ had better corrosion resistance. The XRD test shows that the crystal was mainly β-PbO₂ of the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ surface and the current density affected the preferential growth of the crystal surface of PbO₂. SEM tests show that grains of the optimum TF/β-PbO₂ coating prepared were tightly bound and uniform in size.