An overview of cathode material and catalysts suitable for generating hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cell

Kundu, A.; Sahu, J.N.; Redzwan, Ghufran; Hashim, Mohd Ali

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2012.11.031

Cited by 297 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…[285] However, high H 2 production rate and low applied voltage still requires improvement in structuration of electrodes. [286] Efficient microbial immobilization thus meets the general issue of enzyme immobilization in 3D nanostructured networks.…”

Section: Challenges Involved In Increasing Biohydrogen Production By mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

et al. 2014

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Among sustainable alternatives to fossil fuel, proton exchange membrane fuel cells are promising devices that deliver electricity from hydrogen and oxygen, producing only water. The transformation of the fuel and oxidant however relies on rare‐metal catalysts. H2/O2 enzymatic biofuel cells thus emerge as sustainable biotechnological devices in which chemical catalysts are replaced by hydrogenases at the anode and multicopper oxidases at the cathode. This review discusses the recent breakthroughs and the limitations in all the components of H2/O2 biofuel cells: 1) Catalytic mechanisms involved in multicopper oxidases and hydrogenases, in addition to the new potential of enzymes from the biodiversity pool, which exhibit outstanding properties. 2) The molecular basis for oriented enzyme immobilization on the electrochemical interfaces as a prerequisite for a fast direct electron‐transfer rate. 3) The requirement for 3D networks to enhance current densities. 4) The production of H2 from biomass. 5) The history of H2/O2 biofuel cells and recent devices, which also highlights the remaining issues that will allow the use of such devices in low‐power applications.

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Section: Challenges Involved In Increasing Biohydrogen Production By mentioning

confidence: 99%

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

et al. 2014

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“…Amorphous MoS 2 is consequentially not as catalytically active as its nanoparticle-sized or hybrid-supported counterparts [16]. Recently, MoS 2 has been shown to exhibit competent performance in microbial electrolysis cells, outperforming stainless steel which is the leading low cost HER catalyst [9,17]. Also, MoS 2 chemically bound to graphene oxide (GO) or reduced GO (RGO) was reported as a novel and advanced catalyst [16], exhibiting a high electrocatalytic activity in HER.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

MoS2-based materials as alternative cathode catalyst for PEM electrolysis

Corrales-Sánchez

Ampurdanés

Urakawa

2014

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy

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“…In reality, an external voltage of more than 0.2 V is required to overcome the additional kinetic barriers imposed by the hydrogen formation reaction. 4 This additional voltage is substantially lower than that needed for electrochemical water splitting (theoretically 1.23 V vs. SHE 5 ) making hydrogen production energetically more cost efficient. In addition, recovery of valuable energy content from wastewater/waste also results in environmental benefits.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Platinum is a highly efficient catalyst for HER, but its high cost obstructs its application in MECs, especially for large scale systems that are designed for wastewater treatment. 4,6 Thus, alternative catalysts have been explored such as Pd-, 7 Fe-, 8 Mo-, 9 and Ni-based materials. 10 Among them, Ni-containing nanoparticles are of special interest because of nickel's low cost, abundance, low overpotentials toward proton reduction, and high stability in solutions, which are usually alkaline in the MEC cathode.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Nanoparticulate Ni(OH)₂Films Synthesized from Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Cyclam for Hydrogen Production in Microbial Electrolysis Cells

Qin

Maza

Stratakes

et al. 2016

J. Electrochem. Soc.

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Hydrogen production in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) is a promising approach for energy harvesting from wastewater. The kinetic barriers toward proton reduction necessitate the use of catalysts to drive hydrogen formation at appreciable rates and low applied potentials. Towards this end, cost effective alternatives to platinum catalysts are of paramount interest. In this study, Ni(OH) 2 films were synthesized by electrophoretic deposition from a Ni(II)cyclam precursor solution at varying concentrations (6 mM, 15 mM, and 23 mM). The films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy to confirm the deposition of Ni(OH) 2 . The Ni(OH) 2 -modified electrodes were then examined by both traditional electrochemical measurements and in an MEC for hydrogen production. Tafel analysis indicates an exchange current density of ∼0.36 mA cm −2 with a Tafel slope of ∼120 mV decade −1 consistent with a rate determining proton adsoprtion step. The hydrogen production rates increased with increasing Ni(II)cyclam concentration in the precursor solution, with the 23 mM-derived film exhibiting a rate comparable to that of a Pt-based catalyst in MEC tests. Hydrogen is considered to be one of the most promising energy carriers as an alternative fuel because of its high energy density and availability from renewable sources. Over 90% of hydrogen gas is produced by steam reforming and coal gasification, both of which are highly energy-consuming processes.1 Among the newly developed technologies for hydrogen production, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are of special interest as a new approach for hydrogen production from organic matter in wastewater and other organic waste. 2,3 In an MEC, organic compounds are degraded by exoelectrogens (electrochemically-active microorganisms), and as a result, electrons are passed to an anode electrode. Hydrogen gas can be formed at the cathode (−0.414 V vs. SHE, standard hydrogen electrode) by reducing protons. This process must be aided by an additional voltage (0.114 V in theory) as a result of the insufficiency of the anode potential (e.g., −0.300 V vs. SHE when acetate is used as an anode substrate) to drive proton reduction. In reality, an external voltage of more than 0.2 V is required to overcome the additional kinetic barriers imposed by the hydrogen formation reaction. 4 This additional voltage is substantially lower than that needed for electrochemical water splitting (theoretically 1.23 V vs. SHE 5 ) making hydrogen production energetically more cost efficient. In addition, recovery of valuable energy content from wastewater/waste also results in environmental benefits.Catalysts are indispensable in accomplishing the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Most MEC studies have used platinum-based catalysts for HER catalysis. Platinum is a highly efficient catalyst for HER, but its high cost obstructs its application in MECs, especially for large scale systems that are designed for wastewater treatment. 4,6 Thus, alternative catalysts have bee...

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An overview of cathode material and catalysts suitable for generating hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cell

Cited by 297 publications

References 66 publications

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

MoS2-based materials as alternative cathode catalyst for PEM electrolysis

Nanoparticulate Ni(OH)₂Films Synthesized from Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Cyclam for Hydrogen Production in Microbial Electrolysis Cells

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An overview of cathode material and catalysts suitable for generating hydrogen in microbial electrolysis cell

Cited by 297 publications

References 66 publications

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H2/O2 Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H2/O2 Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

MoS2-based materials as alternative cathode catalyst for PEM electrolysis

Nanoparticulate Ni(OH)2Films Synthesized from Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Cyclam for Hydrogen Production in Microbial Electrolysis Cells

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Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

Biohydrogen for a New Generation of H₂/O₂ Biofuel Cells: A Sustainable Energy Perspective

Nanoparticulate Ni(OH)₂Films Synthesized from Macrocyclic Nickel(II) Cyclam for Hydrogen Production in Microbial Electrolysis Cells