Tetrabromobisphenol A photoelectrocatalytic degradation using reduced graphene oxide and cerium dioxide comodified TiO2 nanotube arrays as electrode under visible light

Tetrabromobisphenol A, one of the most important brominated retardants , is an typical persistent organic pollutant and it is of great value to develop rapid and effective degradation method. Present study established a photoelectrodegradation method with CeO 2 and reduced graphene oxide co-modified TiO 2 nanotube arrays (RGO-CeO 2 -TiO 2 NAs), which were successfully synthesized and characterized with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectrometry (EDX). The SEM Images revealed that the nanotubes had a diameter of about 100 nm and an obvious layer of CeO 2 and RGO on the surface of TiO 2 nanotube arrays. The EDX data exhibited the presence of Ce element. The results demonstrated that TBBPA was degraded at a high degradation rate constant of 0.0191 min −1 , and photogenerated holes played a major role in the degradation reaction. Significant decrease of degradation efficiency was achieved with the presence of EDTA-2Na(hole scavenger), yet while the existence of t-BuOH(OH scavenger) resulted in less inhibition on the degradation. Besides, RGO-CeO 2 -TiO 2 NAs exhibited good stability with rarely decline of degradation efficiency for ten reused runs. All these indicated that RGO-CeO 2 -TiO 2 NAs were a good catalyst with extraordinary catalytic activity and stability for PEC degradation, and would have great potential in the control and removal of pollutants.