Synthesis of nickel-based layered double hydroxide (LDH) and their adsorption on carbon felt fibres: application as low cost cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cell (MFC)

• Published in: Environmental technology 2021, Vol.42 (3), p.492-504
• Main Authors: Djellali, Meriem, Kameche, Mostefa, Kebaili, Hakima, Bouhent, Mohamed Mustapha, Benhamou, Abdellah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abbreviations; Adsorption; Aluminum; Aluminum chloride; Biochemical fuel cells; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Carbon; carbon cathode catalyst; Carbon cycle; Carbon Fiber; Catalysts; Cathodes; Catholytes; Differential thermal analysis; Differential thermogravimetric analysis; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrolysis; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Electronic devices; Energy harvesting; Ethanol; Fibers; Fourier analysis; Fourier transforms; fruit waste treatment; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Hydroxides; Low cost; low cost energy; Magnesium; microbial fuel cell; Microorganisms; Morphology; Nickel; Nickel aluminides; Nickel chloride; Nickel-Aluminium layered double hydroxide synthesis; Organic matter; Oxidants; Oxidation; Oxidizing agents; Potassium chloride; Scanning electron microscopy; Spectroscopy; Spectrum analysis; Synthesis; Thermal analysis; Waste treatment; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0959-3330; 1479-487X
• DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2019.1635652

Following their successful utilization as novel bioanodes in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), Layered Double Hydroxide (LDH) were tested in the present investigation, as promising cathodes to reduce electrons coming from oxidation of organic matter in the anode compartment, in the presence of oxygen used as successful oxidant. Therefore, the LDH samples Ni 3 Al-LDH with the ionic ratio Ni 2+ /Al 3+ equal to 3, were synthesized and added by adsorption to Carbon Felt (CF) fibres. They were then stored separately in three electrolyte solutions KCl, NiCl 2 and AlCl 3 used as catholytes in the MFCs. Effects of the active cationic sites located inside the Ni 3 Al-LDH on these electrolytes, were discussed in terms of energies produced by these MFCs. The structure and morphology of the synthesized LDH, were studied by using the analytical techniques XRD, FTIRS and SEM, while the electrode performances of the LDH-electrodes were investigated with the electrochemical methods CV and EIS. It was revealed that the CF modified with Ni 3 Al-LDH cathode and conditioned in the NiCl 2 electrolyte solution yielded the highest energy harvesting for the MFC (i.e. 3.2 µW/cm 2 ). This power density output was similar to previous clean one-compartment MFC. However, it was less expensive than an Enzymatic Fuel Cell (45 µW/cm 2 ), making in evidence the highest cost of the material. Thus, by taking into account these encouraging findings, the low cost materials used in MFCs held great promise for practical application in electrochemical power devices and therefore fruit waste treatment. Abbreviations: ACFC: Air Cathode Fuel Cell; ADEFC: Alkaline Direct Ethanol Fuel Cell; AFC: Alcaline Fuel Cell; BET: Brunauer-Emmett-Teller; BFC: Biological Fuel Cell; CF: Carbon Felt; CV: Cyclic Voltammetry; DGFC: Direct Glucose Fuel Cell; DMFC: Direct Methanol Fuel Cell; EFC: Enzymatic Fuel Cell; EIS: Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy; FC: Fuel Cell; FTIR: Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy; LDH: Layered Double Hydroxide; MEC: Microbial Electrolysis Cell; MFC: Microbial Fuel Cell; Mg-Al- -LDH: Layered Double Hydroxide Magnesium-Aluminium-Carbonate; Ni-Al-LDH: Layered Double Hydroxide Nickel-Aluminium; OCP: Open Circuit Potential; SEM: Scanning Electron Microscope; TG/DTA: ThermoGravimetric and Differential Thermal Analysis; XRD: X-Ray Diffraction.