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A mixed transition metal oxide (NiO-CuO) electrocatalyst supported on graphene improved the performance of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) by enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) at the cathode. The anodic biofilm was successfully developed with a thick, rod-like shape, and the MFC exhibited a power density of 21.25 mWm⁻².

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What they did

System
MFC
Substrate
pure compound

What worked

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Abstract

Abstract Mixed transition metal (Ni & Cu) oxides supported on graphene (NiO-CuO/G) electrocatalyst was fabricated and tested as an efficient and cost-effective cathode for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The electrocatalytic activity and selectivity of the NiO-CuO/G for ORR were examined using linear sweep voltammetry measurements (LSV) on a rotating disc electrode (RDE) in pH-neutral electrolyte. In comparison with a benchmark platinum cathode, the NiO-CuO/G showed high selectivity towards the ORR. The analysis of Koutecky-Levich relationship suggests that the electrocatalyst follows the four-electron ORR pathway. NiO-CuO/G cathode in an air-cathode MFC exhibited a slightly lower power density 21.25 mWm − 2 compared to 50.4 mW m − 2 for Pt/C. Both scanning and transmission electron microscope analyses of anodic biofilm showed that a thick biofilm was successfully developed with a rod-like shape. Biochemical characterization of the communities showed that four genera named Escherichia coli ( E-coli ), Shewanella putrefaciens , Bacillus cereus and Bacillus Thuringiensis/mycoides , which belonging to GammaProteobacteria and Firmicutesphyla thatwerethe most abundant bacteria in the anodic biofilm. Our results revealed that NiO-CuO/G cathode demonstrates an enhanced electrocatalytic activity toward ORR in a pH-neutral solution; thus, the newly developed mixed transition metal oxides electrocatalyst can replace other expensive Pt-based catalysts for MFC application.

Key findings

  • The NiO-CuO/G electrocatalyst showed high selectivity towards the ORR compared to a platinum cathode.
  • The four-electron ORR pathway was confirmed through the analysis of the Koutecky-Levich relationship.
  • The MFC with the NiO-CuO/G cathode exhibited a slightly lower power density compared to a Pt/C cathode.

Keywords

ElectrocatalystLinear sweep voltammetryMicrobial fuel cellNon-blocking I/OCyclic voltammetryCathode

Identifiers

DOI
10.21203/rs.3.rs-405277/v1
Journal
Research Square
Year
2021