Photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of hair dye basic red 51 at W/WO3/TiO2 bicomposite photoanode activated by ultraviolet and visible radiation

We prepared a W/WO3/TiO2 bicomposite photoanode by simple electrochemical anodization of W foil, followed by cathodic electrodeposition of TiO2 and annealing at 450 °C for 30 min. This photoanode shows good photoactivity under irradiation with UV and visible light. In optimized conditions, it promotes complete photoelectrocatalytic oxidation of 3.33 × 10−5 mol L−1 basic red 51 solution (which is used in hair dye) at 0.1 mol L−1 Na2SO4, pH 2.0, under a current density of 1.25 mA cm−2 and ultraviolet and visible radiation–total organic carbon removal is 94 and 88%, respectively. This effect paves the way for the sustainable solar-assisted remediation of water bodies contaminated with organic components of hair dyes.