Simultaneous electrochemical ozone production and hydrogen evolution by using tantalum-based nanorods electrocatalysts

[Display omitted] • The β-PbO2/Ta2O5 NRs exhibits a remarkable EOP activity. • Simultaneous EOP and HER were carried out successfully. • The synergic effect of β-PbO2 and Ta2O5 reduces the reaction barrier for EOP. • The electrodegradation of dimethoate was achieved under optimal conditions. ·OH radicals produced via an eco-friendly O3 decomposition reaction in water are employed in a wide range of applications. In this work, three-dimensional (3D) β-PbO2/Ta2O5 and Pt/Ta3N5 samples with a rod-like morphology were successfully fabricated and coupled to carry out electrochemical ozone production (EOP) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), respectively. Moreover, the results on the in-situ electrodegradation of dimethoate also indicate that the β-PbO2/Ta2O5 NRs show a great potential to be used in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) applications. Experimental results and theoretical calculations reveal that the excellent EOP performance of the β-PbO2/Ta2O5 NRs can be attributed to the adsorption energy of the O species, which can be modulated via the synergic effect between β-PbO2 and Ta2O5. This work provides a reference for the development of stable electrocatalysts with high efficiency for the simultaneous production of O3 and H2 in environmental applications and energy conversion.