Barium Hydrogen Phosphate Electrodes for High Electrocatalytic and Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Rhodamine B in Neutral Medium: Optimization by Response Surface Methodology

• Published in: Electrocatalysis Vol. 11; no. 6; pp. 642 - 654
• Main Authors: Amaterz, E., Bouddouch, A., Tara, A., Taoufyq, A., Anfar, Z., Bakiz, B., Bazzi, L., Benlhachemi, A., Jbara, O.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01-11-2020; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Barium; Catalysis; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Current density; Degradation; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Energy Systems; Fluorine; Fourier transforms; Independent variables; Morphology; Optimization; Original Research; Photoelectric effect; Photoelectric emission; Physical Chemistry; Platelets; Process variables; Raman spectroscopy; Reaction time; Response surface methodology; Rhodamine; Spectrum analysis; Substrates; Thin films; Tin oxides; Advanced oxidation processes; Barium hydrogen phosphates; Electrodeposition; Photoelectrocatalysis; Response surface methodology
• ISSN: 1868-2529; 1868-5994
• DOI: 10.1007/s12678-020-00625-8

Barium hydrogen phosphate (BaHPO
4
) thin films were electrodeposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide (FTO) and used as electrocatalysts for organics degradation. The effects of applied current density and deposition time on the phase and morphology of electrodeposited films were analyzed with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), attenuated total reflectance-Fourier-transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (Mott–Schottky) plots, and photocurrent response. The electrodeposited BaHPO
4
films crystallize in the orthorhombic structure and form platelets on the FTO substrate. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to optimize the operational conditions. Four independent process variables were considered: NaCl concentration, rhodamine B (RhB) initial concentration, applied current density, and reaction time. Based on the model prediction, the optimum conditions for RhB degradation were determined with the maximum RhB degradation of 98.78%. The corresponding experimental value of RhB degradation under the optimum conditions was determined as 99%, which is very close to the optimized one, implying that RSM is a powerful strategy for the process optimization. The photoelectrochemical degradation of RhB, performed at optimal operational conditions, allowed the very fast degradation rates of almost 99% during 7 min due to the synergic effect while combining photocatalysis and electrocatalysis.
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