Platinum group metal-free (PGM-free) catalyst with different loadings was investigated in air breathing electrodes microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Firstly, the electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) of the catalyst was investigated by rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) setup with different catalyst loadings. The results showed that higher loading led to an increased in ...

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) exploit the ability of microorganisms to generate electrical power during metabolism of substrates. However, the low efficiency of extracellular electron transfer from cells to the anode and the use of expensive rare metals as catalysts, such as platinum, limit their application and scalability. In this study we investigate the use of pristine graphene based electrod...

A novel microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor was designed for continuous monitoring of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) in real wastewater. To lower the material cost, manganese dioxide (MnO₂) was tested as an innovative cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction in a single chamber air-cathode MFC, and two different crystalline structures obtained during synthesis of MnO₂ (namely β- and γ-MnO₂)...

In this paper, metal sulfide materials have been explored for the first time as a new choice of bifunctional cathode electrocatalyst materials for non-aqueous lithium-air batteries (LABs). Nickel sulfides with two different morphologies of flower-like (f-NiS) and rod-like (r-NiS) are successfully synthesized using a hydrothermal method with and without the assistance of cetyltrimethyl ammonium ...

A characterization of the ionic conduction of the active layer of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell ~PEMFC! cathode by ac impedance measurement at open-circuit potential conditions was conducted. Porous electrode theory was used to derive a compact equation, ]2F& 2 /]y 1 ] ln f(y)/]y 3 ]F& 2 /]y 2 R/ f (y)(1 1 jV)F& 2 5 0, to solve for the impedance response of a cathode at open-circuit ...

Extending the principle of operation of hollow cathode microdischarges to a tube geometry has allowed the formation of stable, high-pressure plasma microjets in a variety of gases including Ar, He, and H2 . Direct current discharges are ignited between stainless steel capillary tubes (d 5178 mm) which are operated as the cathode and a metal grid or plate that serves as the anode. Argon plasma m...

The performance of a direct methanol alkaline anion-exchange membrane (Fumatech FAA3) fuel cell with Pt-free nitrogen-doped few-walled carbon nanotubes (N-FWCNT) as the cathode catalyst is compared with a commercial supported Pt catalyst. The ionomer content of the N-FWCNT cathode catalyst layer is therefore optimized and it is shown to be 40 wt% of FAA3. Scanning electron microscopy images of ...

Power output limitation is one of the main challenges that needs to be addressed for full-scale applications of the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology. Previous studies have examined electrochemical performance of different cathode electrodes including the development of novel iron based electrocatalysts, however the long-term investigation into continuously operating systems is rare. This wo...

Neutron imaging of a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) revealed distinct patterns of water fronts moving through the gas diffusion layers (GDL) and channels [1]. The PEMFC was operating with dead-ended, straight and almost vertically-oriented anode channels; hence the gravity driven accumulation of liquid water at the end of the channel caused flooding in an upward direction. In or...

concurrent renewable energy production and wastewater treatment are two main reasons for using microbial fuel cells (mfcs). in this study, real wastewater was used for treating and power generation by air cathode microbial desalination cells (acmfc). the total duration of voltage generation by acmfc was about 151.9 ±23.2 h. the maximum voltage produced from municipal wastewater treatment was 27...