Versatile electrode materials applied in the electrochemical advanced oxidation processes for wastewater treatment: A systematic review

Recently, electrochemical advanced oxidation processes (EAOPs) have garnered significant attention for the efficient and sustainable degradation of organic pollutants due to their ecological compatibility, operational simplicity, and remarkable degradation efficiency. In EAOP systems, the electrode material plays a pivotal role. Selecting appropriate electrode materials enhances the electrochemical reaction rate, thereby improving the degradation efficiency of pollutants. This review comprehensively elucidates the characteristics and diverse applications of widely employed anode materials, including boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes, mixed metal oxide (MMO) electrodes, metal oxide (MO) electrodes, and various other counterparts. Furthermore, it summarizes a variety of cathode materials and cathode modification techniques, such as metal modification, chemical modification, surface functionalization, and foreign atom doping. Additionally, the review meticulously considers distinctive particle electrode materials, such as carbonaceous particle electrodes, metal material particle electrodes, clay and slag particle electrodes, within a three-dimensional electrochemical system. It describes the preparation and characterization of electrode materials and discusses other EAOPs, such as electro-peroxymonosulfate and electro-peroxone. The application of EAOPs at the pilot level and with real effluents is also examined. The discussion culminates by emphasizing current challenges and essential research imperatives aimed at advancing the effective utilization of electrode materials in EAOPs for organic pollutant remediation.