Photoelectrocatalytic activity of two antimony doped SnO2 films for oxidation of phenol pollutants

Two types of Sb-doped SnO2 films on titanium substrate were prepared by the combination of electro-deposition and dip-coating (Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4/SnO2-Sb2O4) and single dip-coating (Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4), respectively. The surface morphology and crystalline structure of both film electrodes were characterized using X-ray diffractometry(XRD) and scanning electron microscopy(SEM). XRD spectra indicate that the rutile SnO2 forms in two films and a TiO2 crystallite exists only in Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4 electrode. SEM images show that the surface morphology of two films is typically cracked-mud structure. The photooxidation experiment was proceeded to further confirm the two electrode activity. The results show that the photoelectrocatalytic degradation efficiency of Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4 electrode with sub-layer is higher than that of simple Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4 electrode using phenol as a model organic pollutant. The Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4/SnO2-Sb2O4 photoanode has a better photoelectrochemical performance than Ti/SnO2-Sb2O4 photoanode for the removal of organic pollutants from water.