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Carbon‐Supported Zirconium Oxide as a Cathode for Microbial Fuel Cell Applications
Author(s) -
Mecheri Barbara,
Iannaci Alessandro,
D'Epifanio Alessandra,
Mauri Arianna,
Licoccia Silvia
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
chempluschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.801
H-Index - 61
ISSN - 2192-6506
DOI - 10.1002/cplu.201500347
Subject(s) - carbon fibers , cathode , zirconium , zirconium oxide , fuel cells , microbial fuel cell , materials science , oxide , nanotechnology , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , chemistry , metallurgy , electrode , anode , engineering , composite number , composite material
Cost‐effective electrode materials to be used as cathodes in lab‐scale prototype microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were prepared from mixtures of carbon black (C) and zirconium oxide (ZrO 2 ) of different composition. The catalytic activity of these cathodes in the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and their stability toward poisoning in typical MFC operative conditions were assessed by using electrochemical techniques. Scanning electron microscopy and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller measurements gave insights into sample morphology and surface area. The results indicated that the C/ZrO 2 sample with a ZrO 2 loading of 25 wt % (C/ZrO 2 _25) represents the best compromise in terms of ORR activity and stability. C/ZrO 2 _25 was assembled into cathodes of a prototype single‐chamber MFC, which produced a maximum power density of 600 mW m −2 . A comparative cost analysis of energy production indicated that the cost of energy delivered by MFCs assembled with a C/ZrO 2 cathode was more than 15 times lower than that of MFCs assembled with a reference Pt/C cathode.