Stabilized PbO2 electrode prepared via crystal facet controlling for outstanding degradation of MePB

PbO2 electrode prepared by introducing surfactants sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and Triton X-100 was 1.5 times more stable than the traditional PbO2 electrode. The lead ion dissolution was 16.6% of the conventional PbO2 electrode, which reduces the secondary pollution caused by lead ion dissolution. Besides, the synthesized electrode exhibited an outstanding degradation performance on the endocrine disruptor methylparaben (MePB). It can completely degrade 20 mg/L MePB within 1 h, and the COD removal can reach 91.4%. The excellent performance of the synthesized electrode was mainly due to the control of the electrode's crystal facet during the preparation of the PbO2 electrode. The crystal phase and morphology of the electrode were studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). It was found that the assistance of surfactants SDS and Triton X-100 promoted formation of the low-index facet beta(101) and limited formation of the high-index facet beta(211), that show higher overpotential for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Besides, PbO2 had better crystallization and the obvious pyramid structure.