Nanostructured Gas Diffusion Layer to Improve Direct Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Air-Cathode Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells
Giulia Massaglia, Tommaso Serra, Candido Fabrizio Pirri, Marzia Quaglio
AI summary
70% confidenceA nanostructured gas diffusion layer was developed to improve the performance of Air-Cathode Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells, achieving a maximum current density of 132.2 mA m⁻², which is two times higher than a commercial PTFE reference material.
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Abstract
The aim of this work is the development of new nanostructured-gas-diffusion-layer (GDL) to improve the overall behaviour of Air-Cathode Single-Chamber-Microbial-Fuel-Cells (SCMFCs). The design of new nanostructured-GDL allowed exploiting all nanofibers ’intrinsic properties, such as high surface ratio to volume, high porosity, achieving a good oxygen diffusion into the proximity of catalyst layer, favouring thus the direct oxygen-reduction-reaction (ORR). Nanostructured-GDLs were prepared by electrospinning process, using layer-by-layer deposition to collect 2 nanofibers’ mats. The first layer was made of cellulose nanofibers able to promote oxygen diffusion into SCMFC. The second layer, placed outwards, was based on polyvinyl-fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers to prevent the electrolyte leakage. This nanostructured-GDL plays a pivotal role to improve the overall performance of Air-Cathode-SCMFCs. A maximum current density of (132.2 ± 10.8) mA m⁻² was obtained, which is two times higher than the one reached with commercial-PTFE (58.5 ± 2.4 mA m⁻²), used as reference material. All results were analyzed in terms of energy recovery parameter, defined as ratio of generated power integral and the internal volume of devices, evaluating the overall SCMFC performance. SCMFCs with a nanostructured-GDL showed an energy recovery one order of magnitude higher than the one obtained with commercial-PTFE.
Key findings
- The nanostructured gas diffusion layer improved oxygen diffusion into the catalyst layer, favoring the direct oxygen reduction reaction.
- The layer-by-layer deposition of cellulose and PVDF nanofibers enhanced the overall performance of Air-Cathode Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells.
- The energy recovery parameter was improved with the use of the nanostructured gas diffusion layer.
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Identifiers
- Journal
- Preprints.org
- Year
- 2023