Fe/N codoped porous graphitic carbon derived from macadamia shells as an efficient cathode oxygen reduction catalyst in microbial fuel cells. Issue 46 (24th October 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ning, Haoming; Zhang, Zhi; Shi, Chunhai; Ma, Xiaolei; Li, Jian; Zhu, Hongyi; Hu, Jiawei
• Is Part Of: RSC advances. Volume 12:Issue 46(2022)
• Page Start: 30145
• Page End: 30156
• Publication Date: 2022-10-24
• Subjects: Chemistry -- Periodicals; 540.5
• DOI: 10.1039/d2ra04214b
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2046-2069

Abstract

Abstract : Fe/N codoped porous graphitic carbon derived from macadamia shells possessed good electrochemical performance as a cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells. Abstract : In this study, Fe/N codoped porous graphitic carbon derived from macadamia shells was prepared at different temperatures as cathodic catalysts for microbial fuel cells (MFCs), with K2 FeO4 as a bifunctional catalyst for porosity and graphitization. The catalyst prepared at 750 °C (referred to as MSAC-750) showed a large specific surface area (1670.3 m 2 g −1 ), graphite structure, and high pyridine-N and Fe-N X contents. Through the electrochemical workstation test, MSAC-750 shows excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, with an onset potential of 0.172 V and a half-wave potential of −0.028 V ( vs. Ag/AgCl) in a neutral medium, and the ORR electron transfer number is 3.89. When applied to the MFCs as cathodic catalysts, a higher maximum power density and voltage of 378.68 mW m −2 and 0.425 V were achieved with the MSAC-750 catalyst and is superior to that of the Pt/C catalyst (300.85 mW m −2 and 0.402 V). In this case, a promising method is hereby established for the preparation of an excellent electrochemical catalyst for microbial fuel cells using inexpensive and easily available macadamia shells.