Improving the power density of a Geobacter consortium‐based microbial fuel cell by incorporating a highly dispersed birnessite/C cathode

BACKGROUND Microbial fuel cell (MFC) power production is limited by the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The quest for platinum‐free materials for improving the cathodic ORR in MFCs is a challenging task. Birnessite‐type MnO2/carbon cathodes in MFCs have been rarely reported so far. In this...

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Published inJournal of chemical technology and biotechnology (1986) Vol. 95; no. 12; pp. 3169 - 3178
Main Authors Fuentes‐Albarrán, Carmen, Juárez, Katy, Gamboa, Sergio, Tirado, Ana, Alvarez‐Gallegos, Alberto
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Chichester, UK John Wiley & Sons, Ltd 01.12.2020
Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
Subjects
Biochemical fuel cells
birnessite
cathode catalyst
Cathodes
Chemical reduction
Consortia
energy conversion
Fuel cells
Fuel technology
Manganese dioxide
microbial fuel cells
Microorganisms
oxygen reduction reaction
Oxygen reduction reactions
Physical characteristics
Platinum
Sodium sulfate
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Summary:BACKGROUND Microbial fuel cell (MFC) power production is limited by the cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The quest for platinum‐free materials for improving the cathodic ORR in MFCs is a challenging task. Birnessite‐type MnO2/carbon cathodes in MFCs have been rarely reported so far. In this work, a birnessite/C cathode was tested in a MFC. RESULTS A birnessite/C cathode was synthesized (using a rapid, facile and low‐cost method) and its structural and morphological characteristics were assessed. The ORR on such a cathode was investigated using linear sweep voltammetry in a catholyte of 0.8 mol L–1 Na2SO4, pH 2 (same conditions as those of experimental MFCs). The current density values were higher than those for a plain C cathode. The volumetric power density improved from 224 to 6201 mW m−3 on replacing the plain C cathode with the birnessite/C cathode in a MFC. Deltaproteobacteria were found at the C anode and they were associated with the high power densities obtained. CONCLUSIONS Birnessite/C is a promising cathodic electrode because its synthesis is straightforward, it is not expensive and it could promote the ORR and improve the power density in MFCs. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry
ISSN:0268-2575
1097-4660
DOI:10.1002/jctb.6495