Iron-rich nanoparticle encapsulated, nitrogen doped porous carbon materials as efficient cathode electrocatalyst for microbial fuel cells

• Published in: Journal of power sources 2016-05, Vol.315, p.302-307
• Main Authors: Lu, Guolong, Zhu, Youlong, Lu, Lu, Xu, Kongliang, Wang, Heming, Jin, Yinghua, Jason Ren, Zhiyong, Liu, Zhenning, Zhang, Wei
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bacteria; Biochemical fuel cells; Carbon; Catalysts; Cathodes; Electrocatalyst; Electrocatalysts; Encapsulation; Microbial fuel cell; Microorganisms; Nitrogen-doped carbon; Oxygen reduction reaction; Porous materials; Porous organic polymer
• ISSN: 0378-7753; 1873-2755
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2016.03.028

Developing efficient, readily available, and sustainable electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in neutral medium is of great importance to practical applications of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, a porous nitrogen-doped carbon material with encapsulated Fe-based nanoparticles (Fe-Nx/C) has been developed and utilized as an efficient ORR catalyst in MFCs. The material was obtained through pyrolysis of a highly porous organic polymer containing iron(II) porphyrins. The characterizations of morphology, crystalline structure and elemental composition reveal that Fe-Nx/C consists of well-dispersed Fe-based nanoparticles coated by N-doped graphitic carbon layer. ORR catalytic performance of Fe-Nx/C has been evaluated through cyclic voltammetry and rotating ring-disk electrode measurements, and its application as a cathode electrocatalyst in an air-cathode single-chamber MFC has been investigated. Fe-Nx/C exhibits comparable or better performance in MFCs than 20% Pt/C, displaying higher cell voltage (601 mV vs. 591 mV), maximum power density (1227 mW m−2 vs. 1031 mW m−2) and Coulombic efficiency (50% vs. 31%). These findings indicate that Fe-Nx/C is more tolerant and durable than Pt/C in a system with bacteria metabolism and thus holds great potential for practical MFC applications. [Display omitted] •A porous N-doped carbon material (Fe-Nx/C) was prepared from simple building blocks.•Catalytic performance of Fe-Nx/C was investigated for oxygen reduction reaction.•Fe-Nx/C was applied in microbial fuel cell as an efficient cathode catalyst.