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Carbon‐supported perovskite oxides as oxygen reduction reaction catalyst in single chambered microbial fuel cells
Author(s) -
Dong Heng,
Yu Hongbing,
Wang Xin,
Zhou Qixing,
Sun Jingwen
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.3893
Subject(s) - cathode , microbial fuel cell , catalysis , perovskite (structure) , carbon fibers , oxide , oxygen , materials science , cathodic protection , chemical engineering , open circuit voltage , power density , inorganic chemistry , chemistry , electrode , anode , voltage , metallurgy , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , composite material , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics , composite number , engineering
Abstract BACKGROUND: Pt‐free cathodic catalyst is needed for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Perovskite‐type oxide could be a substitute for Pt because it has been proved to be a highly active and low‐cost oxygen reduction catalyst in chemical fuel cells. RESULTS: A nano‐sized La 0.4 Ca 0.6 Co 0.9 Fe 0.1 O 3 perovskite‐type oxide on a carbon support (LCCF/C) was prepared and tested for its performance and stability (15 cycles) in MFCs. An exchange current density of 7.030 × 10 −5 (A cm −2 ) was obtained with fresh LCCF/C cathode and is increased to 7.438 × 10 −5 (A cm −2 ) after 15 cycles operating in MFCs. A power density of 405 mW m −2 was achieved with the LCCF/C cathode at the 2nd cycle which was between those of Pt/C (560 mW m −2 ) and C (339 mW m −2 ) cathodes. At the end of the 15th cycle, the lowest decay (due to biofouling) rate on the open circuit voltage (2%) and the maximum power density (15%) were observed with LCCF/C cathode compared with those of Pt/C (4%, 17%) and C (22%, 69%) cathodes, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that perovskite‐type oxide on carbon support catalysts could be a potential substitute for Pt for cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in air‐cathode MFCs. © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry