Metallic
State FeS Anchored (Fe)/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/N-Doped Graphitic
Carbon with Porous Spongelike Structure as Durable Catalysts for Enhancing
Bioelectricity Generation
Xin Xu
Ying Dai
Jia Yu
Liang Hao
Yaqiang Duan
Ye Sun
Yanhong Zhang
Yuhui Lin
Jinlong Zou
10.1021/acsami.7b01531.s001
https://acs.figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/Metallic_State_FeS_Anchored_Fe_Fe_sub_3_sub_O_sub_4_sub_N-Doped_Graphitic_Carbon_with_Porous_Spongelike_Structure_as_Durable_Catalysts_for_Enhancing_Bioelectricity_Generation/4767829
The
critical issues in practical application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs)
for wastewater treatment are the high cost and poor activity and durability
of precious metal catalysts. To alleviate the activity loss and kinetic
barriers for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) on cathode, (Fe)/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/FeS/N-doped graphitic carbon ((Fe)/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/FeS/NGC) is prepared as ORR catalyst through a one-step
method using waste pomelo skins as carbon source. Various characterization
techniques and electrochemical analyses are conducted to illustrate
the correlation between structural characteristics and catalytic activity.
MFCs with Fe/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/FeS/NGC (900 °C) cathode
produces the maximum power density of 930 ± 10 mW m<sup>–2</sup> (Pt/C of 489 mW m<sup>–2</sup>) and maintains a good long-term
durability, which only declines 18% after 90 day operation. Coulombic
efficiency (22.2%) obtained by Fe/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/FeS/NGC
(900 °C) cathode is significantly higher than that of Pt/C (17.3%).
Metallic state FeS anchored in porous NGC skeleton can boost electron
transport through the interconnected channels in spongelike structure
to improve catalytic activity. Charge delocalization of C atoms can
be strengthened by N atoms incorporation into carbon skeleton, which
correspondingly contributes to the O<sub>2</sub> chemisorptions and
O–O bond weakening during ORR. Energetically existed active
components (Fe and N species) are more efficient than Pt to trap and
consume electrons in catalyzing ORR in wastewater containing Pt-poisoning
substances (bacterial metabolites). (Fe)/Fe<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub>/FeS/NGC catalysts with the advantages of durable power outputs and
environmental-friendly raw material can cover the shortages of Pt/C
and provide an outlook for further applications of these catalysts.
2017-03-14 00:00:00
activity loss
O 2 chemisorptions
N species
fuel cells
Durable Catalysts
Metallic State FeS Anchored
Enhancing Bioelectricity Generation
NGC skeleton
ORR catalyst
metal catalysts
cathode
90 day operation
MFC
power outputs
wastewater treatment
N atoms incorporation
carbon source
carbon skeleton
catalyzing ORR
Various characterization techniques
electrochemical analyses
oxygen reduction reaction
waste pomelo skins
electron transport
spongelike structure
power density
charge delocalization
Porous Spongelike Structure
Pt-poisoning substances
C atoms