FeS₂ Nanoparticles Decorated Graphene as Microbial‐Fuel‐Cell Anode Achieving High Power Density

Abstract

Abstract Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have received great attention worldwide due to their potential in recovering electrical energy from waste and inexhaustible biomass. Unfortunately, the difficulty of achieving the high power, especially in real samples, remains a bottleneck for their practical applications. Herein, FeS 2 nanoparticles decorated graphene is fabricated via a simple hydrothermal reaction. The FeS 2 nanoparticles decorated graphene anode not only benefits bacterial adhesion and enrichment of electrochemically active Geobacter species on the electrode surface but also promotes efficient extracellular electron transfer, thus giving rise to a fast start‐up time of 2 d, an unprecedented power density of 3220 mW m −2 and a remarkable current density of 3.06 A m −2 in the acetate‐feeding and mixed bacteria‐based MFCs. Most importantly, the FeS 2 nanoparticles decorated graphene anode successfully achieves a power density of 310 mW m −2 with simultaneous removal of 1319 ± 28 mg L −1 chemical oxygen demand in effluents from a beer factory wastewater. The characteristics of improved power generation and enhanced pollutant removal efficiency opens the door toward development of high‐performance MFCs via rational anode design for practical application.

Key findings

• ▸The FeS2 nanoparticles decorated graphene anode promotes efficient extracellular electron transfer and bacterial adhesion.
• ▸The anode achieves a fast start-up time of 2 days and a power density of 3220 mW m⁻² in acetate-feeding and mixed bacteria-based MFCs.
• ▸The anode also achieves a remarkable current density of 3.06 A m⁻² and simultaneous removal of 1319 ± 28 mg L⁻¹ pollutants.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1002/adma.201800618

Journal

Advanced Materials

Year

2018