Tailoring electrocatalytic activity of Ti/IrO2-Ta2O5 anodes via graphene incorporation for energy-efficient copper foil fabrication

The development of energy-efficient electrocatalytic anodes is crucial for advancing electrolytic copper foil production, a key material in electronics and lithium-ion batteries. This study investigates the incorporation of graphene into Ti/IrO₂-Ta₂O₅ coated anodes to reduce reliance on costly iridium while enhancing electrochemical performance. Using thermal decomposition, four anodes with fixed iridium content (26 g/m²) and varying graphene concentrations (0.2–0.8 mg/mL) were synthesized. Structural and morphological analyses via XRD, SEM, and EDS revealed uniform IrO₂ crystallization and graphene-induced agglomerates, while electrochemical tests (polarization curves, cyclic voltammetry, and impedance spectroscopy) demonstrated optimized performance at 0.6 mg/mL graphene. This composition achieved the lowest charge transfer resistance (2.92 Ω·cm²), highest voltammetric charge (187 mC/cm²), and superior oxygen evolution activity, attributed to balanced conductivity and active site distribution. Excessive graphene (>0.6 mg/mL) led to aggregation and performance decline. The work provides a cost-effective strategy for designing durable, high-performance anodes for industrial copper foil fabrication.