Electrochemical behavior of PbO2/PbSO4 electrode in the presence of surfactants in electrolyte

The electrochemical behavior of PbO₂/PbSO₄ electrode is investigated in 4.5 M H₂SO₄ in presence of three surfactants, Sodium Dodecyl Sulfate (SDS), Cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) and Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP), using cyclic voltametry, electrochemical spectroscopy impedance and galvanostatic discharge as techniques. The micro morphology of the surface of the modified PbO₂ electrodes is examined by scanning electron microscopy. The results show that SDS and CTAB when added in the electrolyte could refine the coating particles and change the roughness of the surface of the electrode leading to a thin film of PbO₂ with amorphous character. In addition, SDS and CTAB shift the hydrogen evolution potential towards more negative values, improve the discharge capacity of the anodic layer and accelerate the charge transfer. Under cathodic polarization, CTAB presents the lowest value of the charge transfer resistance R_ct. In the contrary, STPP shifts the oxygen evolution potential towards more positive values, passivates the surface of the electrode and inhibits completely the reaction of PbO₂ formation.