Método ultrarrápido para a síntese de eletrodos de Ti/(RuO2)0,9(IrO2)0,1 usando aquecimento por laser

Dimensionally stable anodes (DSA®) constitute a class of electrodes widely used in a variety of industrial processes. These anodes are usually prepared by thermal decomposition of a precursor solution over an adequate substrate [1]. However, the thermal treatment is still a time-consuming process that can take 10–30h depending on the method and the synthesis condition. In this study, an ultra-fast method is proposed for DSA® preparation, where a CO2 laser is employed. Conventional treatment was also performed in order to comparison. This way, to prepare electrodes of Ti/(RuO2)0.9(IrO2)0.1, the precursor solutions prepared by Pechini method, were applied on Ti supports followed by thermal treatments. With the use of conventional heating (oven) 4 layers were required to obtain the desired oxide loading (1.2 cm-2), while only 2 layers were necessary by using the laser. SEM images showed that the electrode prepared conventionally presented common cracked-mud morphology, while the anodes prepared using laser have a surface free of cracks. XRD analysis confirmed formation of RuO2 and IrO2 oxides. The electrode prepared by laser is quite similar to the conventional one, since the calculated voltammetric charge values (from Fig. 1a) were very close, 44.2 and 45.8 mC cm-², respectively. Service life tests demonstrated similar stability between conventionally and laser-prepared electrodes. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that the use of laser is advantageous, since reduces drastically the preparation time (18.5 times faster) (Fig 1b), requires less number of layers and produces electrodes with similar characteristics.