Differences in the electrochemical behavior of ruthenium and iridium oxide in electrocatalytic coatings of activated titanium anodes prepared by the sol-gel procedure

Abstract

The electrochemical characteristics of Ti0.6Ir0.4O2/Ti and Ti0.6Ru0.4O2/Ti anodes prepared by the sol-gel procedure from the corresponding oxide sols, obtained by force hydrolysis of the corresponding metal chlorides, were compared. The voltammetric properties in H2SO4 solution indicate that Ti0.6Ir0.4O2/Ti has more pronounced pseudocapacitive characteristics, caused by proton-assisted, solid state surface redox transitions of the oxide. At potentials negative to 0.0 VSCE, this electrode is of poor conductivity and activity, while the voltammetric behavior of the Ti0.6Ru0.4O2/Ti electrode is governed by proton injection/ejection into the oxide structure. The Ti0.6Ir0.4O2/Ti electrode had a higher electrocatalytical activity for oxygen evolution, while the investigated anodes were of similar activity for chlorine evolution. The potential dependence of the impedance characteristics showed that the Ti0.6Ru0.4O2/Ti electrode behaved like a capacitor over a wider potential range than the Ti0.6Ir0.4O2/Ti electrode, with fully-developed pseudocapacitive properties at potentials positive to 0.60 VSCE. However, the impedance characteristics of the Ti0.6Ir0.4O2/Ti electrode changed with increasing potential from resistor-like to capacitor-like behavior.