What are the common types of titanium anodes
As a key electrode material in electrochemical reactions, titanium anodes are widely used in electroplating, electrolysis, water treatment, chlor-alkali, electrodeposition and other industrial fields due to their excellent corrosion resistance, electrocatalytic activity and mechanical strength. Its core structure is usually composed of a titanium substrate and a surface active coating, and different types of active layers directly determine the performance and application range of the anode.
The following are several common types of titanium anodes and their technical characteristics:
Ruthenium-iridium coated anode (Ru-Ir titanium anode)
This is one of the most widely used types of titanium anodes. Its surface is coated with precious metal oxides mainly composed of ruthenium (Ru) and iridium (Ir), which have strong electrocatalytic activity and are suitable for working in high-concentration chloride ion environments.
Typical applications: sodium hypochlorite electrolysis, swimming pool disinfection, industrial chlor-alkali production, seawater electrolysis, etc.
Features: low chlorine evolution potential, strong corrosion resistance, and long service life.
Iridium-tantalum coated anode (Ir-Ta titanium anode)
This type of anode is mainly used in oxygen evolution reaction (OER) environment. The surface is mainly composed of iridium and tantalum oxides. It has strong stability and acid resistance, and is particularly suitable for strong corrosion systems such as sulfuric acid.
Typical applications: electrolysis of water to produce oxygen, organic wastewater treatment, precious metal electrodeposition, anodic oxidation, etc.
Features: low oxygen evolution potential, strong acid resistance, and good stability.
Tin antimony oxide anode (Sn-Sb titanium anode)
Also known as lead-free conductive oxide anode, it is a non-precious metal coating product with good electrocatalytic performance, and is particularly suitable for environmental protection and sewage treatment.
Typical applications: electrochemical advanced oxidation (EAOP), electrolytic treatment of organic wastewater, electrocatalytic oxidation, etc.
Features: low cost, suitable for large-scale promotion, but the service life is slightly shorter than that of precious metals.
Platinum-coated titanium anode (Pt titanium anode)
Pure platinum is evenly coated on the surface of the titanium substrate by electroplating or sintering. As an inert metal, platinum has extremely high corrosion resistance and is suitable for harsh environments.
Typical applications: hydrogen production, precious metal extraction, electroplating, analytical electrochemistry, etc.
Features: Excellent stability, but high cost, suitable for high-end application scenarios.
Ternary precious metal oxide anode (Ru-Ir-Sn, Ru-Ir-Ta, etc.)
In order to improve the comprehensive performance and service life of the electrode, some products use multi-component composite coatings to achieve coordinated control of oxygen and chlorine evolution and long-term corrosion resistance.
Typical applications: large-scale industrial electrolysis systems, chlor-alkali industry, deep oxidation treatment equipment.
Features: balanced performance, wide range of applications, and customized design capabilities.
The selection of titanium anode should be based on multiple factors such as the actual electrolysis reaction type, the medium used, temperature, current density and service life. For industries that electrolyze chlorine or sodium hypochlorite, ruthenium-iridium coated anodes are preferred; for processes such as electrolysis of water, heavy metal wastewater, and electrocatalytic oxidation, iridium-tantalum or tin-antimony anodes are recommended. For high-end, highly corrosive environments, platinum coating or multi-component composite anode solutions can be considered.
During the project design or procurement phase, it is recommended to conduct a collaborative evaluation with a professional titanium anode manufacturer to select the appropriate type and coating formula based on the target process environment, so as to achieve the comprehensive benefits of stable operation, minimal energy consumption, and maximum life.
