Iron-Based Electrocatalysts Supported on Nanostructured Carbon to Enhance Oxygen Reduction in Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems ideally suited to address two sustainability problems at once: energy generation and wastewater treatment. However, one of the major barriers to the widespread diffusion of this technology is the high cost of materials, in particular platinu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:ECS transactions 2016-07, Vol.72 (30), p.9-15
Main Authors: Mecheri, Barbara, Iannaci, Alessandro, D'Epifanio, Alessandra, Nieto-Monge, Maria Jesus, Lázaro, Maria Jesus, Licoccia, Silvia
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems ideally suited to address two sustainability problems at once: energy generation and wastewater treatment. However, one of the major barriers to the widespread diffusion of this technology is the high cost of materials, in particular platinum used at cathode side. To overcome this drawback, we developed catalysts based on iron phthalocyanine (FePc) supported on nanostructured carbon materials with physical and morphological differences, such as nanofibers and xerogels. To facilitate catalyst dispersion and obtain effective ORR active sites, the supports were modified by a two - step treatment with nitric acid and ammonia gas. The obtained catalysts were used to prepare cathodes which were assembled in single chamber MFCs. The body of results indicated that FePc based catalysts can be used as cathode materials for MFC applications.
ISSN:1938-5862
1938-6737
DOI:10.1149/07230.0009ecst