Effect of morphology and pH on (photo)electrochemical degradation of methyl orange using TiO2/Ti mesh photocathode under visible light

• TiO2/Ti mesh photocathode efficiently degrades methyl orange (MO) in visible light.
• Calcination temperature (morphology) and pH control activity of TiO2/Ti mesh.
• Rutile: anatase ratio of 20:80 gives highest photocatalytic activity at pH 1.
• MO degradation follows pseudo-first-order kinetics.
• Cost effective TiO2/Ti mesh photocathode shows excellent stability.

Cathodic (photo)electrochemical degradation of methyl orange (MO) under visible light on TiO2/Ti mesh photocathode prepared by simple sol–gel dip coating technique has been investigated thoroughly to optimize different parameters for better dye degradation efficiency. The effect of crystallinity, morphology, anatase–rutile ratio and pH of the solution on (photo)electrochemical degradation of MO have been analysed using spectroelectrochemical techniques. The spectroelectrochemical studies show that the photocathode calcined at 550 °C having rutile:anatase mixed crystal in 20:80 ratio, gives the highest cathodic photocurrent density and highest degradation efficiency of the dye solution with high pseudo-first-order rate constant value at pH 1. The experimental results demonstrated the excellent stability of the TiO2/Ti mesh as the photocathode and thus may be utilized in photocatalytic and microbial fuel cells.

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