Oxygen evolution activity of RuO2–ZrO2–rGO titanium-based composite anodes prepared via DSA and their application in electrolytic copper foil production

Dimensionally stable anodes (DSAs) provide notable advantages in selecting anode materials for copper foil electrolysis. Among them, titanium-based oxide electrodes are extensively employed in the electrochemical industry owing to their superior corrosion resistance and low oxygen evolution potential. In this study, RuO 2 –ZrO 2 –rGO titanium-based composite electrodes were prepared by thermal decomposition to improve catalytic activity, corrosion resistance, and service life. The results revealed that the incorporation of ZrO 2 markedly enhanced the corrosion resistance of the electrode, while the introduction of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) significantly improved its electrical conductivity and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance. Electrochemical measurements demonstrated that the RuO 2 –ZrO 2 –rGO titanium electrode exhibited a low onset potential for oxygen evolution (1.191 V vs. SCE), a small overpotential of 167 mV at 10 mA/cm 2 , and a Tafel slope of 47 mV/dec, indicating high electrocatalytic efficiency. The electrode showed optimal stability when fabricated at a thermal decomposition temperature of 400 °C with an rGO doping concentration of 0.6 g/L. These findings suggest that the RuO 2 –ZrO 2 –rGO titanium-based composite anode is a durable and efficient candidate for copper foil electrolysis, holding considerable promise for industrial application. • One-step fabrication of RuO 2 –ZrO 2 –rGO Ti-based composite electrode via thermal decomposition. • Superior OER performance with 1.191 V onset potential vs. SCE, 167 mV overpotential and 47 mV/dec Tafel slope. • Overcomes corrosion and high energy consumption issues of traditional anodes for electrolytic copper foil production.