Solid-State Synthesis of Cobalt/NCS Electrocatalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Dual Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

• Published in: Nanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-12, Vol.12 (24), p.4369
• Main Authors: Ashmath, Shaik, Kwon, Hyuk-Jun, Peera, Shaik Gouse, Lee, Tae Gwan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acetic acid; Analysis; Bacteria; Biochemical fuel cells; Carbon; Catalysts; Chambers; Chemical reduction; Chemical synthesis; Co/NCS; Cobalt; Electrocatalysts; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemistry; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Heavy metals; Laboratories; Metal ions; Methods; microbial fuel cells; Microorganisms; Nanoparticles; Nitrogen; nitrogen and sulfur co-doped carbon; Oxidation-reduction reaction; Oxygen; oxygen reduction reaction; Oxygen reduction reactions; Properties; Pyrolysis; Solid state; solid-state synthesis; Solvents; Sulfur; Voltammetry; Water treatment; Zinc acetate
• ISSN: 2079-4991; 2079-4991
• DOI: 10.3390/nano12244369

Due to the high cost of presently utilized Pt/C catalysts, a quick and sustainable synthesis of electrocatalysts made of cost-effective and earth-abundant metals is urgently needed. In this work, we demonstrated a mechanochemically synthesized cobalt nanoparticles supported on N and S doped carbons derived from a solid-state-reaction between zinc acetate and 2-amino thiazole as metal, organic ligand in presence of cobalt (Co) metal ions Zn Co (C H N S). Pyrolysis of the Zn Co (C H N S) produced, Co/NSC catalyst in which Co nanoparticles are evenly distributed on the nitrogen and sulfur doped carbon support. The Co/NSC catalyst have been characterized with various physical and electrochemical characterization techniques. The Co content in the Zn Co (C H N S) is carefully adjusted by varying the Co content and the optimized Co/NSC-3 catalyst is subjected to the oxygen reduction reaction in 0.1 M HClO electrolyte. The optimized Co/NSC-3 catalyst reveals acceptable ORR activity with the half-wave potential of ~0.63 V vs. RHE in acidic electrolytes. In addition, the Co/NSC-3 catalyst showed excellent stability with no loss in the ORR activity after 10,000 potential cycles. When applied as cathode catalysts in dual chamber microbial fuel cells, the Co/NCS catalyst delivered satisfactory volumetric power density in comparison with Pt/C.