Power generation using an activated carbon and metal mesh cathode in a microbial fuel cell

Author:

Fang Zhang, Shaoan Cheng, Deepak Pant, Gilbert Van Bogaert, Bruce E Logan
Abstract:

An inexpensive activated carbon (AC) air cathode was developed as an alternative to a platinum-catalyzed electrode for oxygen reduction in a microbial fuel cell (MFC).

AC was cold-pressed with a polytetrafluoroethylene(PTFE) binder to form the cathode around a Ni mesh current collector. This cathode construction avoided the need for carbon cloth or a metal catalyst, and produced a cathode with high activity for oxygen reduction at typical MFC current densities. Tests with the AC cathode produced a maximum power density of 1220 mW/m² (normalized to cathode projected surface area; 36 W/m³ based on liquid volume) compared to 1060 mW/m² obtained by Pt catalyzed carbon cloth cathode. The Coulombic efficiency ranged from 15% to 55%.

These findings show that AC is a cost-effective material for achieving useful rates of oxygen reduction in air cathode MFCs.
Journal:

Electrochemistry Communications
Publisher:

Elsevier
Volume (Issue):

11 ( 11 )
Page:

2177-2179
Sector:

Sustainability Bioenergy and Biofuel
Publication Type:

Research Article

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