Development of Ti/(RuO2)0.8(MO2)0.2 (M=Ce, Sn or Ir) anodes for atrazine electro-oxidation. Influence of the synthesis method

• We developed binary dimensionally stable anodes by Pechini and ionic liquid methods.
• The synthesis method was crucial in the catalytic activity of the electrodes.
• The chemical composition is decisive in the catalytic activity to atrazine oxidation.

Binary dimensionally stable anodes (DSA) containing RuO2 and/or IrO2, SnO2, CeO2 were prepared by the Pechini method as well as by the thermal decomposition of metallic chlorides dissolved in an ionic liquid (IL). Both, the synthesis method and the chemical composition, were crucial in the catalytic activity of the DSAs towards atrazine oxidation. The highest electrocatalytic activity towards atrazine oxidation (~100%) was obtained by the Ti/(RuO2)0.8(IrO2)0.2 electrode synthesized by using an IL as solvent (IL method), and it was mainly due to the high catalytic activity of RuO2 and IrO2 towards the oxidation of organic compounds allied to the very rough surface obtained by the IL method.