Identification of the Mechanism of Electrocatalytic Ozone Generation on Ni/Sb-SnO2

This paper reports a systematic study of the codoping of SnO2 with Sb and Ni to identify the mechanism responsible for the electrocatalytic generation of ozone on Ni/Sb-SnO2. On the basis of interpretation of a combination of X-ray diffraction, BET surface area measurements (N2), and thermal analysis, the formation of ozone appears to take place on particle surfaces of composite Sb-SnO2 grains and is controlled by diffusion of OH along internal crystallite surfaces within the grain. Sb-doped SnO2 is inactive with respect to ozone evolution in the absence of Ni, demonstrating a synergic interaction between nickel and antimony. From X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) investigations, Sb(V) ions substitute for Sn(IV) in the lattice with a preference for centrosymmetric coordination sites, while the Sb(III) ions occur at grain surfaces or boundaries. Ni was not detected by XPS, being located in the subsurface region at concentrations below the detection limit of the instrument. In addition to identification of a possible mechanism for ozone formation, the study resulted in the production of active nanopowders which will allow the fabrication of high-surface-area anodes with the potential to exceed the space-time yields of β-PbO2 anodes, permitting the application the Ni/Sb-SnO2 anodes in the treatment of real waters.