Studies of Electro-Assisted Photodegradation of Methylene Blue in a Zero Gap Cell with Nafion Membrane

A Nafion membrane, used as a solid polymer electrolyte, was transplanted in a zero gap cell to investigate the feasibility of a hybrid technology of RuO₂-TiO₂ deposition combined with the application of an external electric field. The results showed that the zero gap cell technique with Nafion membrane had an apparent additive effect on the suppressing the recombination of the photo generated charge carriers and the photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue. It could enhance the photocatalytic efficiency from 34.6% to 87.2% at 1~3 V and 100 mA/dm² in 30 min. This system may be used as new technique to decontaminate the drinking water under visible-light.