Abiotic Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts Used in Microbial Fuel Cells

Wang, Zejie; Cao, Changli; Zheng, Yue; Chen, Shouhui; Zhao, Feng

doi:10.1002/celc.201402093

Cited by 123 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 98 publications

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“…Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) follows two different pathways: one is the 4-electron pathway which is more favorable than the other 2-electron pathway [57]. The whole mechanism is described elsewhere in [58]. The ORR in two different electron pathways in acidic medium [59] can be expressed as:…”

Section: Cathode Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrode materials for microbial fuel cells: nanomaterial approach

Mustakeem

2015

Mater Renew Sustain Energy

197

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Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has the potential to become a major renewable energy resource by degrading organic pollutants in wastewater. The performance of MFC directly depends on the kinetics of the electrode reactions within the fuel cell, with the performance of the electrodes heavily influenced by the materials they are made from. A wide range of materials have been tested to improve the performance of MFCs. In the past decade, carbon-based nanomaterials have emerged as promising materials for both anode and cathode construction. Composite materials have also shown to have the potential to become materials of choice for electrode manufacture. Various transition metal oxides have been investigated as alternatives to conventional expensive metals like platinum for oxygen reduction reaction. In this review, different carbon-based nanomaterials and composite materials are discussed for their potential use as MFC electrodes.

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Section: Cathode Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrode materials for microbial fuel cells: nanomaterial approach

Mustakeem

2015

Mater Renew Sustain Energy

197

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“…11,12,18 PGM-free catalysts showed slightly worse performance compared to Pt in acidic media, similar or higher compare to Pt in neutral media and superior compared to Pt in alkaline media.…”

mentioning

confidence: 92%

“…Here we mention some of the successful and relevant investigation concerning iron, [31][32][33][34][35] 43 Few literature reviews on PGM-free catalysts utilization have also been recently presented. 11,12,18 In the past years, our group has developed several PGM-free catalysts that have been successfully incorporated in the cathode for MFC 14,44,45 and in electrodes for supercapacitive MFC (SC-MFC). 46,47 The catalysts were all prepared using sacrificial support method (SSM) technique in which highly porous open frame structure was formed.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

High Performance Platinum Group Metal-Free Cathode Catalysts for Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)

Kodali

Gokhale

Santoro

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode is usually the limiting step in microbial fuel cells and improvements have to be done to increase the performances and reduce the cost. For the first time, iron-based catalysts were synthesized utilizing the polymerization-pyrolysis method and tested successfully in neutral media and in working microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The catalysts were synthesized using polymerization, salt formation, mixed with iron salt and pyrolyzed at 850 • C (PABA-850) and 950 • C (PABA-950) respectively. To study the kinetics, electro-activity of the catalysts was investigated using rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE). Results showed that PABA-850 had higher catalytic activity compared to that of PABA-950. Both Fe-catalysts had much better activity compared to activated carbon (AC) used as a baseline. Catalysts were then integrated into air breathing cathodes (loading 1 mg cm −2 ) and tested in single chamber MFC. The power peak obtained was 178 ± 3 μWcm −2 for PABA-850. Comparable power was produced from PABA-950 (173 ± 3 μWcm −2 ). AC power output was 131 ± 4 μWcm −2 that was roughly 40% lower compared to Fe-based catalysts. Those results demonstrated that the addition of platinum group metal free (PGM-free) catalysts increased the output of the MFCs substantially. Fe-based catalysts seem to be suitable for large-scale MFC applications.

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“…Another alternative is the use of inorganic based catalysts, such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or manganese [39]. However, the most common materials used for cathode electrodes in MFCs are carbon-based which, besides following the peroxide pathway, offers a high conductivity, high durability, high mechanical strength, and high surface area at an affordable cost [40][41][42]. A cathode electrode usually consists of the catalyst layer and the supporting material, which generally acts as the diffusion layer, as well as the current collector.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-Based Air-Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cells

et al. 2016

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Abstract:A comparison between different carbon-based gas-diffusion air-breathing cathodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is presented in this work. A micro-porous layer (MPL) based on carbon black (CB) and an activated carbon (AC) layer were used as catalysts and applied on different supporting materials, including carbon cloth (CC), carbon felt (CF), and stainless steel (SS) forming cathode electrodes for MFCs treating urine. Rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) analyses were done on CB and AC to: (i) understand the kinetics of the carbonaceous catalysts; (ii) evaluate the hydrogen peroxide production; and (iii) estimate the electron transfer. CB and AC were then used to fabricate electrodes. Half-cell electrochemical analysis, as well as MFCs continuous power performance, have been monitored. Generally, the current generated was higher from the MFCs with AC electrodes compared to the MPL electrodes, showing an increase between 34% and 61% in power with the AC layer comparing to the MPL. When the MPL was used, the supporting material showed a slight effect in the power performance, being that the CF is more powerful than the CC and the SS. These differences also agree with the electrochemical analysis performed. However, the different supporting materials showed a bigger effect in the power density when the AC layer was used, being the SS the most efficient, with a power generation of 65.6 mW·m −2 , followed by the CC (54 mW·m −2 ) and the CF (44 mW·m −2 ).

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Abiotic Oxygen Reduction Reaction Catalysts Used in Microbial Fuel Cells

Cited by 123 publications

References 98 publications

Electrode materials for microbial fuel cells: nanomaterial approach

Electrode materials for microbial fuel cells: nanomaterial approach

High Performance Platinum Group Metal-Free Cathode Catalysts for Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)

Carbon-Based Air-Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cells

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