Influence of heat treatment temperature on the electrochemical properties and corrosion behavior of RuO2-TiO2 coating in acidic chloride solution

MMO (mixed metal oxide) anodes were prepared by depositing 60RuO₂-40TiO₂ coating on titanium substrate by the thermal decomposition of Ru and Ti chloride solution. The thin oxide films were prepared at different calcination temperatures. The effect of heat treatment temperature on electrochemically active surface area was investigated by cyclic voltammetry. Stability of the mixed oxide coating during electrolysis was evaluated in 0.5 M NaCl solution using cyclic voltammetry (CV), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX) and potentiodynamic polarization. The changes in voltammetric charge, current density and Tafel slope of cholrine evolution reaction with time were monitored during the electrolysis. The morphology and surface composition of the oxide coated anodes before and after accelerated life test (ALT) were analyzed. Deactivation process of the oxide coated anodes was also studied. High temperature preparation of the coatings can change the deactivation mechanism and improve the anodes stability through the changes in electrochemical porosity. Based on the obtained results, different mechanisms for degradation in electro catalytic activity were discussed.