PbO2 electrodes doped with rare earth oxides (Re-PbO2), including Er2O3,.Gd2O3, La2O3 and CeO2, were prepared by anodic codeposition in order to investigate the effect of rare earth oxide dopants on the properties of PbO2 electrodes. The physicochernical properties of the Re-PbO2 electrodes were analyzed by spectral methods and electrochemical measurements. The surface morphology of the Re-PbO2 electrodes held the characteristics of the dopants and the crystal grain of PbO, The crystal structure of the PbO2 electrodes was also influenced by doping with different rare earth oxides. The presence of Er,03 and La,03 in the PbO2 films could enhance the direct anodic oxidation, which was helpful to mineralize 4-chlorophenol. The 4-chlorophenol decay on the Re-PbO2 electrodes was analyzed and good fitting was found using the relation for the pseudo-first order reaction. Of the electrodes examined, the Er-PbO2 electrode exhibited the best performance for the degradation of 4-chlorophenol. The removal rates of COD and 4-chlorophenol during the 9 h electrolysis at a current density of 20 mA cm(-2) were 80.7 and 100%, respectively, with the current efficiency being 16.0-10.1%. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.