Electrosynthesis and catalytic activity of PbO 2 ‐fluorinated surfactant composites

BACKGROUND The effect of the potassium salt of nonafluorobutanesulfonic acid (C 4 F 9 SO 3 K) on the kinetic regularities of electrodeposition of lead dioxide (PbO 2 ) from nitrate electrolytes has been investigated. Obtained results concerning synthesis and physicochemical properties can contribute substantially to a fundamental understanding of the relationship between coating structure and catalytic activity, important to all fields of catalysis. RESULTS The introduction of C 4 F 9 SO 3 K into the PbO 2 deposition electrolyte leads to insignificant inhibition of the Pb 2+ electro‐oxidation process, whereas the mechanism of the process does not change. Upon deposition of coatings from electrolytes containing surfactants, a composite coating is formed. Depending on the electrolyte composition and electrolysis conditions, the surfactant content in the composite can vary from 2.00 ± 0.05 to 17.00 ± 0.05 wt%. The inclusion of surfactants in the coating composition with subsequent overgrowth with PbO 2 leads to a decrease in the size of PbO 2 crystals and prevents the formation of polycrystalline blocks. The composite material is a PbO 2 matrix with submicron and nanoscale crystals into which surfactant particles are embedded. CONCLUSION It was shown that the electrocatalytic activity of composite PbO 2 ‐surfactant materials depends on the nature and content of the latter in the composite. The use of PbO 2 doped with C 4 F 9 SO 3 K as an anode leads to an inhibition of the process of oxygen evolution and an almost three‐fold increase in the rate of electrochemical conversion of 4‐chlorophenol to aliphatic compounds. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry