Air Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cell using Mn-, Fe-, Co- and Ni-containing Platinum Group Metal-free Catalysts

Kodali, Mounika; Serov, Alexey; Kabir, Sadia; Artyushkova, Kateryna; Matanovic, Ivana; Atanassov, Plamen; Santoro, Carlo

Abstract

© 2017 The Authors The oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) is one of the major factors that is limiting the overall performance output of microbial fuel cells (MFC). In this study, Platinum Group Metal-free (PGM-free) ORR catalysts based on Fe, Co, Ni, Mn and the same precursor (Aminoantipyrine, AAPyr) were synthesized using identical sacrificial support method (SSM). The catalysts were investigated for their electrochemical performance, and then integrated into an air-breathing cathode to be tested in “clean” environment and in a working microbial fuel cell (MFC). Their performances were also compared to activated carbon (AC) based cathode under similar conditions. Results showed that the addition of Mn, Fe, Co and Ni to AAPyr increased the performances compared to AC. Fe-AAPyr showed the highest open circuit potential (OCP) that was 0.307±0.001V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and the highest electrocatalytic activity at pH 7.5. On the contrary, AC had an OCP of 0.203±0.002V (vs. Ag/AgCl) and had the lowest electrochemical activity. In MFC, Fe-AAPyr also had the highest output of 251±2.3μWcm−2, followed by Co-AAPyr with 196±1.5μWcm−2, Ni-AAPyr with 171±3.6μWcm−2, Mn-AAPyr with 160±2.8μWcm−2and AC 129±4.2μWcm−2. The best performing catalyst (Fe-AAPyr) was then tested in MFC with increasing solution conductivity from 12.4 mScm−1to 63.1 mScm−1. A maximum power density of 482±5μWcm−2was obtained with increasing solution conductivity, which is one of the highest values reported in the field.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 6, 2017
• Publication Date: Mar 20, 2017
• Deposit Date: Apr 20, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: May 2, 2018
• Journal: Electrochimica Acta
• Print ISSN: 0013-4686
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 231
• Pages: 115-124
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.02.033
• Keywords: microbial fuel cells, oxygen reduction reaction, PGM-free catalysts, Fe-AAPyr, high power generation
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/898585
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.electacta.2017.02.033
• Contract Date: Apr 20, 2018