Ameliorating Cu2+ reduction in microbial fuel cell with Z-scheme BiFeO3 decorated on flower-like ZnO composite photocathode. (January 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lam, Sze-Mun; Sin, Jin-Chung; Zeng, Honghu; Lin, Hua; Li, Haixiang; Mohamed, Abdul Rahman; Lim, Jun Wei
• Is Part Of: Chemosphere. Volume 287:Part 4(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-01
• Subjects: Microbial fuel cell -- BiFeO3/ZnO -- Photocathode -- Sunlight -- Electricity production -- Copper reduction; Pollution -- Periodicals; Pollution -- Physiological effect -- Periodicals; Environmental sciences -- Periodicals; Atmospheric chemistry -- Periodicals; 551.511
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132384
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0045-6535

Abstract

Abstract: BiFeO3 nanoparticle decorated on flower-like ZnO (BiFeO3 /ZnO) was fabricated through a facile hydrothermal-reflux combined method. This material was utilized as a composite photocathode for the first time in microbial fuel cell (MFC) to reduce the copper ion (Cu 2+ ) and power generation concomitantly. The resultant BiFeO3 /ZnO-based MFC displayed distinct photoelectrocatalytic activities when different weight percentages (wt%) BiFeO3 were used. The 3 wt% BiFeO3 /ZnO MFC achieved the maximum power density of 1.301 W m −2 in the catholyte contained 200 mg L −1 of Cu 2+ and the power density was greatly higher than those pure ZnO and pure BiFeO3 photocathodes. Meanwhile, the MFC exhibited 90.7% removal of Cu 2+ within 6 h under sunlight exposure at catholyte pH 4. The addition of BiFeO3 nanoparticles not only manifested outstanding capability in harvesting visible light, but also facilitated the formation of Z-scheme BiFeO3 /ZnO heterojunction structure to induce the charge carrier transfer along with enhanced redox abilities for the cathodic reduction. The pronounced electrical output and Cu 2+ reduction efficiencies can be realized through the synergistic cooperation between the bioanode and BiFeO3 /ZnO photocathode in the MFC. Furthermore, the developed BiFeO3 /ZnO composite presented a good stability and reusability of photoelectrocatalytic activity up to five cyclic runs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: A dual-chamber MFC was assembled with the BiFeO3 /ZnO photocathode. wt% loading of BiFeO3 was optimized to improve power generation and Cu 2+ reduction. Z-scheme BiFeO3 /ZnO boosted the charge separation and retained high redox ability. The photocathode displayed marked and stable photoelectrocatalytic performance.