Nanomaterials (Dec 2018)

Biohybrid Cathode in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell

  • Giulia Massaglia,
  • Isabella Fiorello,
  • Adriano Sacco,
  • Valentina Margaria,
  • Candido Fabrizio Pirri,
  • Marzia Quaglio

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/nano9010036
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 9, no. 1
p. 36

Abstract

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The aim of this work is to investigate the properties of biofilms, spontaneously grown on cathode electrodes of single-chamber microbial fuel cells, when used as catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). To this purpose, a comparison between two sets of different carbon-based cathode electrodes is carried out. The first one (Pt-based biocathode) is based on the proliferation of the biofilm onto a Pt/C layer, leading thus to the creation of a biohybrid catalyst. The second set of electrodes (Pt-free biocathode) is based on a bare carbon-based material, on which biofilm grows and acts as the sole catalyst for ORR. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) characterization confirmed better performance when the biofilm is formed on both Pt-based and Pt-free cathodes, with respect to that obtained by biofilm-free cathodes. To analyze the properties of spontaneously grown cathodic biofilms on carbon-based electrodes, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy is employed. This study demonstrates that the highest power production is reached when aerobic biofilm acts as a catalyst for ORR in synergy with Pt in the biohybrid cathode.

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