Constructing a nanostructured electrode with superaerophobic surface property (i.e., superlow adhesion to gas bubbles) has been strikingly highlighted as an advanced technology to minimize the energy loss during various electrochemical gas evolution reactions. Herein, aiming at enhancing the performance of chlorine evolution reaction (ClER), which holds the key for chlor-alkali industry as well as water treatment, a nanostructured RuO2 @TiO2 electrode is demonstrated to overcome the bubble shielding effect, thereby maximizing the working area and offering a robust working condition. Benefitting from the direct growing architecture and the superaerophobic surface property, this nanostructured RuO2 @TiO2 electrode exhibits an excellent ClER performance, reaching 50 mA cm-2 at a low potential of 1.10 V (vs SCE) with a Faradaic efficiency over ≈90%. Moreover, a prominent stability (250 mA cm-2 for 10 h) is observed for this nanostructured electrode, probably due to the small vibrations and scratching forces from gas product.
Keywords: RuO2-based nanostructured electrodes; bubble release; chlorine evolution reaction; low adhesion surface; superaerophobicity.
© 2016 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.