CoMn2O4 doped reduced graphene oxide as an effective cathodic electrocatalyst for ORR in microbial fuel cells. (10th February 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hu, Zhaoxia; Zhou, Xinxing; Lu, Yao; Jv, Rongmao; Liu, Yue; Li, Na; Chen, Shouwen
• Is Part Of: Electrochimica acta. Volume 296(2019)
• Page Start: 214
• Page End: 223
• Publication Date: 2019-02-10
• Subjects: Microbial fuel cells -- Oxygen reduction reaction -- CoMn2O4 -- Reduced graphene oxide (rGO) -- Power generation; Electrochemistry -- Periodicals; Electrochemistry, Industrial -- Periodicals; 541.37
• DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.11.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0013-4686

Abstract

Abstract: A naturally rich, low cost electrocatalyst of spinel CoMn2 O4 doped reduced graphene oxides (CoMn2 O4 /rGO) is prepared as oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalyst. The CoMn2 O4 nanoparticles (∼10 nm) disperse uniformly on the rGO nanosheets via in-situ hydrothermal synthesis, endowing the CoMn2 O4 /rGO electrocatalyst a large Brunauer-Emmet-Teller surface area (78.4 m 2 g −1 ) and abundant Co 3+ /Co 2+, Mn 3+ /Mn 2+ and Mn 4+ /Mn 3+ electroactive sites, resulting in faster electron transport and improved electrochemical activity for ORR. The mechanism of oxygen reduction for CoMn2 O4 /rGO catalyst proceeds through both two-electron and four-electron pathways while the former pathway dominates according to linear sweep voltammetry analysis. These nanocomposites are doped on graphite felt to act as air-cathode in a double-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC). Benefiting from the more positive reduction potential, higher electron conductivity and reduced charge-transfer resistance, the MFCs using GF-CoMn2 O4 /rGO air-cathodes exhibit much better cell performance than those using GF-CoMn2 O4 and bare GF air-cathodes. The MFC using GF-CoMn2 O4 /rGO-8.0 reaches the maximum power output of 361 mW m −2 and open circuit potential of 0.822 V. The excellent catalytic activity makes GF-CoMn2 O4 /rGO a promising air-cathode for practical applications of MFC.