Potential of porous Co3O4 nanorods as cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kumar, Ravinder; Singh, Lakhveer; Zularisam, A.W.; Hai, Faisal I.
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 220(2016)
• Page Start: 537
• Page End: 542
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Microbial fuel cell -- Co3O4 nanorods -- Oxygen reduction reaction; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.09.003
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Porous Co3 O4 nanorods were fabricated by hydrothermal method. The nanorods exhibited an excellent catalytic activity for oxygen reduction in MFCs. The porous structure of the nanorods contributed to improved performance in MFCs. A maximum power density of 503 ± 16 mW/m 2 was achieved. Abstract: This study aims to investigate the potential of porous Co3 O4 nanorods as the cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in aqueous air cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The porous Co3 O4 nanorods were synthesized by a facile and cost-effective hydrothermal method. Three different concentrations (0.5 mg/cm 2, 1 mg/cm 2, and 2 mg/cm 2 ) of Co3 O4 nanorods coated on graphite electrodes were used to test its performance in MFCs. The results showed that the addition of porous Co3 O4 nanorods enhanced the electrocatalytic activity and ORR kinetics significantly and the overall resistance of the system was greatly reduced. Moreover, the MFC with a higher concentration of the catalyst achieved a maximum power density of 503 ± 16 mW/m 2, which was approximately five times higher than the bare graphite electrode. The improved catalytic activity of the cathodes could be due to the porous properties of Co3 O4 nanorods that provided the higher number of active sites for oxygen.