Affiliation:
1. Chemistry and Physics College of Science Health Engineering and Education Murdoch University Perth Western Australia 6150 Australia
2. Curtin Water Quality Research Centre Chemistry School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University GPO Box U1987 Perth Western Australia 6845 Australia
3. Engineering and Energy College of Science Health Engineering and Education Murdoch University Perth Western Australia 6150 Australia
Abstract
AbstractA commercial pure titanium (cp‐Ti) powder was used to produce a photoelectrode substrate via 3D‐printing and a commercial titanium foil (Ti‐foil) was used as substrate for direct comparison. TiO2 nanotubes were prepared on both Ti substrates via electrochemical anodization. Characterisation of electrodes showed similar results in all aspects analysed: morphology, absorbance, crystallinity, and photo‐current response. The efficiency of photoelectrocatlytic treatment of methylene blue dye (MB) in water with a single‐chip UVA‐LED was identical. The cp‐Ti/TiO2 electrode achieved 93±4 % removal of MB after 210 min, when combined with a four‐chip UVA‐LED. The cp‐Ti photoelectrode was also tested for the first time for photoelectrocatalytic treatment of benzothiazole (BTH). The highest degradation of BTH (98±2 %, 120 min) was also achieved using the four‐chip UVA‐LED. This study supports further development of 3D‐printed electrodes, maximizing the potential for the creation of novel electrodes for use in PEC technologies for abatement of organic pollutants.