Influence of Cr doping on the oxygen evolution potential of SnO2/Ti and Sb-SnO2/Ti electrodes

Oxygen evolution potential is the determining factor affecting the anode efficiency of the wastewater treatment process. In this study, we focus on increasing oxygen evolution potential of Cr-SnO2/Ti and Cr-Sb-SnO2/Ti electrodes with the pyrolytic method. XRD, SEM and XPS techniques had been applied to characterize the microstructures and chemical compositions of the samples. Electrochemical measurements had been performed to evaluate the oxygen evolution potential as a criterion of the wastewater treatment efficiency. The results show that co-doping of Sb and Cr improved the crystallinity and grain size of SnO2 coating, and Cr existed in the form of Cr(III) valence states. The Cr doping treatment improved the electronic conductivity and the electrocatalytic activity of the electrodes. DFT calculation of the band-structure indicates Cr doped SnO2 had a superior electrical conductivity, where Cr atom acts as an acceptor providing vacancies for electron transportation. The DOS diagrams reveal the Cr doped SnO2 showing a p-type conductivity which would subsequently influence the built-in potential on metal-semiconductor interface. We proposed the mechanism of the increase of oxygen evolution potential is the doping of Cr expands the built-in potential.