Highly-Ordered Magneli Ti4O7 Nanotube Arrays as Effective Anodic Material for Electro-oxidation

Pure Magneli Ti4O7 nanotube arrays (NTA) were successfully fabricated by reducing TiO2 NTA with hydrogen at 850 degrees C for 30 minutes. The microstructure, composition and electrochemical behavior of the prepared Ti4O7 NTA were characterized by means of X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy, Transmission Electron Microscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. The as-prepared Ti4O7 NTA had a highly-ordered tubular structure with high crystallinity, large electrochemical window of water electrolysis (2.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl, pH = 6.0) and low interfacial charge transfer resistance when they were employed as anode for electro-oxidation. Phenol was electro-oxidized on Ti4O7 particles and Ti4O7 NTA with the latter giving 20% more Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal. Pure Ti4O7 NTA also displayed larger degradation coefficient as well as higher COD removal and current efficiency than Boron-doped Diamond and other types of Magneli NTAs. Cathodic polarization was found to be an effective way of restoring the electrochemical performance of oxidized Ti4O7 NTA as an anode. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.