Development of highly efficient bimetallic nanocomposite cathode catalyst, composed of Ni:Co supported sulfonated polyaniline for application in microbial fuel cells

• Published in: Electrochimica acta 2018-08, Vol.282, p.931-945
• Main Authors: Papiya, Farhan, Pattanayak, Prasanta, Kumar, Piyush, Kumar, Vikash, Kundu, Patit Paban
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bimetals; Biochemical fuel cells; Catalysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Cathodes; Chemical synthesis; Conducting polymers; Dispersion; Electrocatalysts; Fuel cells; Inductively coupled plasma; Maximum power density; Microbial fuel cell (MFC); Microorganisms; Nanocatalyst; Nanocomposites; Nanoparticles; Nickel; Optical emission spectroscopy; Oxygen reduction reaction (ORR); Oxygen reduction reactions; Platinum; Polyamines; Polyanilines; Porosity; Power density; Scanning electron microscopy; Sulfonated polyaniline (SPAni); Transmission electron microscopy
• ISSN: 0013-4686; 1873-3859
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.07.024

To develop a cost-effective efficient non-noble cathode electrocatalyst with enhanced oxygen reduction is one of the major concerns in optimizing electrical efficiency in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The study here demonstrates the evaluation of synthesized non-noble bi-metallic [1:1 Nickel (Ni): Cobalt (Co)] nanocatalyst supported on sulfonated polyaniline (SPAni) in MFC. The homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles on supporting matrix was confirmed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The Inductive coupled plasma - optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) also shows the uniform distribution of (1:1) Co and Ni nanoparticles over the polyaniline hetero-structure for Ni-Co/SPAni and Ni-Co/PAni nanocatalyst system. Furthermore, the high specific surface area [Multipoint Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (MBET)] of Ni-Co/SPAni catalyst associated with the uniform dispersion and high porosity makes it promising catalyst material for fuel cell applications. Among all the synthesized electrocatalysts, 1:1 Ni-Co/SPAni catalyst revealed the highest catalytic activity with the enhanced stability towards oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). Moreover, in MFC, a maximum power density of ∼659.79 mWm−2 was observed with prospective Ni-Co/SPAni catalyst compared to the corresponding Pt/C catalyst (∼483.48 mWm−2). The results indicate the potential application of a conducting polymer such as SPAni as supporting matrix in bimetallic Ni-Co catalyst system that could alternatively serve as an efficient cathode catalyst over the traditionally used costly Pt/C catalyst in MFCs operation. [Display omitted] •SPAni emerge as the effective catalyst support for Microbial fuel cell (MFC) electrocatalyst.•Support SPAni, Ni-Co nanocomposite showed superior ORR activity and high stability in neutral medium.•Power density in MFC utilizing Ni-Co (1:1)/SPAni catalyst was found to be higher than the Pt/C catalyst.•MFC with Ni-Co (1:1)/SPAni catalyst generates the highest power density of 659.79 ± 19 mWm−2.