Influence of F ‐ doping on the microstructure, surface morphology and electrochemical properties of the lead dioxide electrode

The lead dioxide electrode (PbO 2 ) with Ti substrate and SnO 2 ‐Sb 2 O 5 intermediate layer was doped by F ‐ ion through the potentiostatic anode co‐deposition method. The content of F in the coating can be controlled by adjusting deposition potential. The effect of F ‐ doping on the composition, surface morphology and electrochemical properties of the PbO 2 electrode was characterized by X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electrochemical measurement methods. The results have confirmed that the content of β‐PbO 2 increases with increasing that of F, and the doping can make the β‐PbO 2 grains become fine and the electrode surface become smooth; the specific surface areas and conductivity increase, and the initial potential of oxygen evolution shifts toward positive direction compared with the free‐doped PbO 2 electrode; the oxygen evolution potential increases with the increasing of the F ‐ content in the PbO 2 film electrode. The bulk electrolysis result demonstrated that the performances of the F‐PbO 2 electrode for anodic oxidation aniline have been improved to some extent. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.