Enhanced electrochemical degradation of 4-Nitrophenol molecules using novel Ti/TiO₂-NiO electrodes

Removal of 4-Nitrophenol (4-NP) compounds by the electrochemical degradation method using Ti/TiO₂-NiO electrodes was successfully conducted. This study aims to study the activity of Ti/TiO₂-NiO electrodes in the electrocatalytic degradation of 4-NP as organic compound pollutants. Ti/TiO₂-NiO preparation was carried out by the wet impregnation technique, then TiO₂-NiO composites were sprayed on the surface of Titanium electrodes. The electrode was characterized by X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), and Cyclic Voltammetry (CV). A Diffractogram XRD of TiO₂-NiO composites showed a characteristic peak of TiO₂-NiO at 2θ = 33°. Meanwhile, analysis of the SEM surface morphology showed that NiO with an average particle size of 22.07 μm can be attached to the surface of the Ti/TiO₂ plate. Electrocatalytic degradation of 4-NP compounds was found to be optimum at pH 11 and 80 min electrolysis time with a rate constant of 0.0373 min⁻¹. The electrochemical degradation exhibited the percentage of removing 4-NP rate of >95% with good electrode measurement stability.