Enhancing oxygen reduction reaction of supercapacitor microbial fuel cells with electrospun carbon nanofibers composite cathode

Cai, Teng; Huang, Yuxuan; Huang, Manhong; Xi, Yu; Pang, Dianyu; Wen, Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2019.04.025

Cited by 70 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…ESR was evaluated to be 87.9 ± 3.2 Ω and the 20% of it was due to the anode (18.1 ± 0.5 Ω) and the remaining 80% due to the cathode (70.1 ± 2.9 Ω). Larger cathode resistance was also measured in previous works underlying the limitation of this particular electrode [ 92 , 93 ]. The time of complete discharges decreased with the increase in i pulse .…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 59%

Air-breathing cathode self-powered supercapacitive microbial fuel cell with human urine as electrolyte

Santoro

Walter

Soavi

et al. 2020

Electrochimica Acta

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In this work, a membraneless microbial fuel cell (MFC) with an empty volume of 1.5 mL, fed continuously with hydrolysed urine, was tested in supercapacitive mode (SC-MFC). In order to enhance the power output, a double strategy was used: i) a double cathode was added leading to a decrease in the equivalent series resistance (ESR); ii) the apparent capacitance was boosted up by adding capacitive features on the anode electrode. Galvanostatic (GLV) discharges were performed at different discharge currents. The results showed that both strategies were successful obtaining a maximum power output of 1.59 ± 0.01 mW (1.06 ± 0.01 mW mL −1 ) at pulse time of 0.01 s and 0.57 ± 0.01 mW (0.38 ± 0.01 mW mL −1 ) at pulse time of 2 s. The highest energy delivered at i pulse equal to 2 mA was 3.3 ± 0.1 mJ. The best performing SC-MFCs were then connected in series and parallel and tested through GLV discharges. As the power output was similar, the connection in parallel allowed to roughly doubling the current produced. Durability tests over ≈5.6 days showed certain stability despite a light overall decrease.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 59%

Air-breathing cathode self-powered supercapacitive microbial fuel cell with human urine as electrolyte

Santoro

Walter

Soavi

et al. 2020

Electrochimica Acta

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“…So far, the electrospun PAN-based CNF materials have been studied as cathode catalysts for direct methanol, [14] protonexchange membrane, [56] and microbial fuel cell [57] applications. In the present work, these materials are employed as cathode catalysts in AEMFC conditions for the first time.…”

Section: Aemfc Testingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile‐Derived Co or Fe Containing Nanofibre Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction at the Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell Cathode

et al. 2020

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Electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) based carbon nanofibres (CNF) are employed as cathode catalysts in anion-exchange membrane fuel cell (AEMFC) for the first time. The catalysts are prepared via pyrolysis of Co or Fe salt-containing PAN fibre with and without the ionic liquid (IL) additive. The catalyst material preparation is optimised by assessing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity of different transition metal and nitrogen-doped CNFs in 0.1 M KOH by rotating disc electrode method followed by testing in real AEMFC configuration. The best performance in the AEMFC is observed in case of Fe and IL containing PAN fibre that was pyrolysed at 1000°C and additionally treated in an acid solution (Fe/IL-PAN-A1000). In the AEMFC, the Fe/IL-PAN-A1000 catalyst showed the maximum power density (P max) of 289 mW cm À 2 , which is 82 % of the P max obtained with commercial Pt/C cathode catalyst (352 mW cm À 2).

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“…Therefore, MFCs were discharged like a supercapacitor and the electrodes were self‐recharged thanks to different anaerobic and aerobic environments occurring on the MFC anode and cathode . Supercapacitive MFCs have shown the possibility of enhancing significantly the power delivered in the form of pulses …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…[60] Supercapacitive MFCs have shown the possibility of enhancing significantly the power delivered in the form of pulses. [67,68] In this work, an applied electrochemical study is presented in which MFC firstly is considered in its supercapacitive mode and discharged galvanostatically. Then, commercial supercapacitors having a different capacitance of 1 F, 3 F, and 6 F are systematically tested, and discharges are exploited.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Boosting Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Combining with an External Supercapacitor: An Electrochemical Study

et al. 2020

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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), despite representing a promising technology, suffer from low power generation that hinders, in most of the cases, their application as power sources. In fact, MFCs are usually coupled with supercapacitors or batteries and these storage units accumulate the energy harvested by MFCs and deliver it on demand. In this work, the electrodes of a MFC are used as electrodes of an internal supercapacitor and discharges and self‐recharges are performed and investigated. Discharges between 1.5 mA and 4 mA were presented producing a maximum power of 1.59 mW. Discharges between 1 mA and 100 mA and recharges are systematically studied for three commercial supercapacitors (SCs) with different capacitances of 1 F, 3 F, and 6 F. The MFC was also connected in parallel with external SCs and discharged galvanostatically. The SC was self‐recharged by the MFC without any additional external power sources. At lower current pulses, the MFC contributed to the overall capacitance, probably owing to its faradaic component. At higher current pulses, the use of SCs enables the energy to be harvested by MFCs at power levels that could not be achieved with the MFC alone. This study demonstrates that, through the proper connection and operation mode of the MFC and SC, it is possible to improve and maximize the performance of every single unit. Understanding the MFC−SC combination is important for identifying the right practical application for which the combination is suitable.

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Enhancing oxygen reduction reaction of supercapacitor microbial fuel cells with electrospun carbon nanofibers composite cathode

Cited by 70 publications

References 73 publications

Air-breathing cathode self-powered supercapacitive microbial fuel cell with human urine as electrolyte

Air-breathing cathode self-powered supercapacitive microbial fuel cell with human urine as electrolyte

Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile‐Derived Co or Fe Containing Nanofibre Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction at the Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell Cathode

Boosting Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Combining with an External Supercapacitor: An Electrochemical Study

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