Nanosphere interlayer and CeCoOx powder modification for long-life and high-performance electrode applications in zinc electrowinning.

[Display omitted] • Intermediate layer of SS NPs improves the physical and electrochemical properties of the electrode. • CeCoO x powder has good electrochemical properties under acidic oxygen evolution. • The feasibility of powder-modified electrodes in zinc electrowinning simulations is demonstrated. Presently, the most widely used anode material in industrial zinc electrowinning is lead-silver alloy, and the low corrosion resistance and high oxygen evolution overpotential of lead-silver alloy anodes are the most popular topics and urgent problems to solve in zinc electrowinning research. Herein, the Ti/Sb-SnO 2 NPs/α-PbO 2 /β-PbO 2 -CeCoO x composite anode is prepared by hydrothermal-electrodeposition. Based on the tested results of electrochemical properties, the composite anodes have a low overpotential of 545 mV at 50 mA cm−2 and a low Tafel slope of 135.19 mV dec–1. According to the tested results of the Raman spectra, Co4+ is the primary active material in the oxygen evolution reaction. Compared to the anode containing lead-silver alloy, the cell voltage is reduced by 0.41 V, and the electrode can operate at a high current density of 2 A cm−2 and under highly acidic conditions for 94 h, confirming excellent corrosion resistance in H 2 SO 4 solution electrolysis. The composite anode shows bright prospects for industrial applications in zinc electrowinning and other hydrometallurgy processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]