An improvement strategy for titanium-based anodes: RGO-CNTs and TNTs as performance enhancers

During marine navigation, ships inevitably encounter corrosion and biofouling from seawater, necessitating anodes with superior performance for impressed current cathodic protection of hulls. In this study, a hybrid material comprising reduced graphene oxide (RGO) and carboxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs), along with a TiO 2 nanotube arrays (TNTs) interlayer, was introduced into a metal oxide-coated electrode. The RGO-CNTs/RuO 2 –IrO 2 –SnO 2 /TNTs electrode was fabricated via thermal decomposition, and its surface morphology, electrocatalytic activity, practical chlorine evolution and antibacterial performance, as well as accelerated life, were systematically evaluated. The underlying mechanisms by which the hybrid material and interlayer enhance anode performance were analyzed. The results indicate that the electrode achieves a difference of 0.430 V between chlorine evolution potential (CEP) and oxygen evolution potential (OEP), with an accelerated life of 232 h. It effectively exerts a stimulatory effect on microorganisms, thereby achieving superior biofouling resistance. This enhancement is likely attributable to the synergistic effects of RGO-CNTs and TNTs, including barrier effects, labyrinth effect, mechanical reinforcement, and optimized electron transport, which collectively improve the electrocatalytic activity and stability of the anode. This study provides valuable theoretical insights for enhancing the activity and stability of coated electrodes, holding significant promise for applications in marine corrosion protection.