Double-Layer 3D Macro–Mesoporous Metal Oxide Modified Boron-Doped Diamond with Enhanced Photoelectrochemical Performance

In this work, a TiO2/Sb-doped SnO2 electrode was prepared on the boron-doped diamond (BDD) substrate with double-layer three-dimensional macro–mesoporous (DL3DOM-m) structure, using the polystyrene sphere (PS) vertical deposition method. The as-prepared DL3DOM-m TiO2/SnO2/BDD was employed for organic contaminant removal, showing excellent photoelectrocatalytic performance. SEM, XRD and XPS indicated that DL3DOM-m electrode possessed a 3D macroporous layered framework with uniform pore size (about 400 nm), nanosized particles (4.5–5.8 nm), and high electroactive surface area (3-fold more than that of BDD). SA-XRD indicated the backbone of DL3DOM-m electrode had mesoporous structure. It was found that the as-prepared electrode exhibited remarkable electrocatalytic activity, high photocurrent and outstanding absorption capability (91.0 μg cm–2). Furthermore, bisphenol A (BPA) was completely decomposed after 3 h of reaction applying DL3DOM-m electrode as photoanode, and that on BDD was only 58.9%. It indicated that the modified electrode had great potential to be used in practical water treatment with high photoelectrochemical performance.