Effect of Tween 80 on the Electrocatalytic Performance of a Ti/PbO2‐MWCNTs Electrode

Abstract In this work, Ti/PbO 2 ‐MWCNTs anodes modified with different amount with different amount of Tween 80 (0.0–2.0 g/L) were prepared by the direct current electrodeposition method used as anode materials for Zinc electrowinning. The MWCNTs were dispersed in a lead nitrate solution with Tween 80, and the effects of the amount of added Tween 80 on the morphology, phase composition and electrocatalytical performance of lead dioxide coating were investigated. Physical characterizations show that with the increase of the amount of Tween 80, both grain size of PbO 2 and carbon content in PbO 2 layer firstly increased and then decreased, the preferential orientation and crystallinity of the PbO 2 grain growth in the deposition process changed. Electrochemical tests demonstrate that the optimal modified electrode achieved the minimum E o value and maximum j 0 of 2.038 V and 3.781×10 −4 A, respectively, an increase of capacitance to 368.8 μF cm −2 , and a decrease of charge transfer resistance to 92.74 Ω cm 2 , which is mainly attributed to the PbO 2 electrode modified with Tween 80, coupled with the synergistic effects of MWCNTs doping.