Performance of a Fe-N-C Catalyst in Single-chamber MFC Air-cathode at Neutral Media

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are technologies that use microorganisms that transfer electrons to the anode, which flows to the cathode to find a final electron acceptor. Oxygen (O2) is the most widely used electron acceptor as it can diffuse through air-cathodes in single-chamber MFCs. However, microo...

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Published inDenki kagaku oyobi kōgyō butsuri kagaku Vol. 92; no. 2; p. 022016
Main Authors SATO-SOTO, Silvia, SATO, Shota, TSUJIMURA, Seiya
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Tokyo The Electrochemical Society of Japan 01.01.2024
Japan Science and Technology Agency
Subjects
Air-cathode
Biochemical fuel cells
Black carbon
Carbon black
Catalysts
Cathodes
Chambers
Chemical reduction
Electrons
Fe-N-C Catalyst
Microbial Fuel Cell
Microorganisms
Neutral Media
Oxygen reduction reactions
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Summary:Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are technologies that use microorganisms that transfer electrons to the anode, which flows to the cathode to find a final electron acceptor. Oxygen (O2) is the most widely used electron acceptor as it can diffuse through air-cathodes in single-chamber MFCs. However, microorganisms need neutral to slightly acid pH to survive, which is detrimental to the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). Therefore, catalysts are needed at the air-cathodes to sustain a stable operation of single-chamber MFCs. Here, we report that the use of small amount (0.15 mg cm−2) of a Fe-N-C catalyst with carbon black in air-cathodes promote the ORR in neutral media and can sustain a stable MFC operation, keeping cell voltages of 0.3 V for 8 days.
ISSN:1344-3542
2186-2451
DOI:10.5796/electrochemistry.23-68141