Preparation and characterization of Fe-Ni/TiO2 nanotube array electrodes and their photoeletrocatalytic activity for dechlorination of pentachlorophenol

Abstract

The Fe-Ni/TiO2 nanotube array electrodes with different metal loadings were fabricated by the anodic oxidation method, followed by a dipping and electro-deposition technique. Scanning electron microscopy(SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) and electrochemical measurements were employed to characterize the catalysts. The photoelectrocatalytic(PEC) reductive degradation of pentachloroph-enol(PCP) by the catalysts was investigated at 0.6 V bias potential in 2-propanol solution. The results indicate that the proper Fe and Ni nanoparticles depositing on the TiO2 nanotube array electrodes could reduce the recombination probability of photoinduced electron and hole. The PEC reductive degradation efficiency of PCP over Fe-Ni/TiO2 nanotube array electrodes with dipping and electro-deposition for 5 cycles could be above 91.35%, much faster than TiO2 nanotube electrodes.