Bifunctional Manganese Ferrite/Polyaniline Hybrid as Electrode Material for Enhanced Energy Recovery in Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are emerging as a sustainable technology for waste to energy conversion where electrode materials play a vital role on its performance. Platinum (Pt) is the most common material used as cathode catalyst in the MFCs. However, the high cost and low earth abundance associated with Pt prompt the researcher to explore inexpensive catalysts. The present study demonstrates a noble metal-free MFC using a manganese ferrite (MnFe2O4)/polyaniline (PANI)-based electrode material. The MnFe2O4 nanoparticles (NPs) and MnFe2O4 NPs/PANI hybrid composite not only exhibited superior oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity for the air cathode but also enhanced anode half-cell potential upon modifying carbon cloth anode in the single-chambered MFC. This is attributed to the improved extracellular electron transfer of exoelectrogens due to Fe(3+) in MnFe2O4 and its capacitive nature. The present work demonstrates for the first time the dual property of MnFe2O4 NPs/PANI, i.e., as cathode catalyst and an anode modifier, thereby promising cost-effective MFCs for practical applications.

Carbon‐Nanotube‐Mediated Electrochemical Transition in a Redox‐Active Supramolecular Hydrogel Derived from Viologen and an l‐Alanine‐Based Amphiphile

“…A shorter diameter arc represents lower CT resistance and higher CT rate at the interface. It is quite evident from the Nyquist plots that the CT resistance increases with an increased amount of amine ( 16‐A ) in (16‐A) n ‐V 2+ , which reflects the superior CT capacity of the former over the other studied samples. The order of CT resistance is: [ n =2, (583.07 Ω)] > [ n =1, (178.85 Ω)] > [ n =0.5, (112.31 Ω)] > [ V 2+ (74.01 Ω)].…”

Carbon‐Based Microbial‐Fuel‐Cell Electrodes: From Conductive Supports to Active Catalysts

“…It should be noted that in recent years, numerous alternative ORR catalysts have been studied and described especially for their use in conventional fuel cells, but also for MFCs . Most of these studies are based on carbon materials, including carbon‐supported noble metals, transition‐metal complexes and metal oxides, metal‐free heteroatom‐doped carbons, or even microorganisms . As numerous review articles have been published on catalysts for ORR, herein, we will only give a brief overview of these recently developed carbon‐based cathode catalysts that are especially used for MFCs.…”

“…Copyright 2015, Elsevier; b) Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2012, American Chemical Society; c) Reproduced with permission . Copyright 2015, American Chemical Society; d) Reproduced with permission .…”

Synthesis and Evaluation of Graphene Aerogel‐Supported MnxFe3−xO4 for Oxygen Reduction in Urea/O2 Fuel Cells

“…The catalytic activity of MnFe 2 O 4 was improved by integrating it with other materials that are capable of boosting conductivity in addition to the reduction in agglomeration of active catalyst. MnFe 2 O 4 ‐supported conductive materials such as graphene and polyaniline composites were studied for ORR and exhibited higher catalytic activity than MnFe 2 O 4 did …”

“…MnFe 2 O 4 -supported conductive materials such as graphene and polyaniline composites were studied for ORR and exhibited higher catalytic activity than MnFe 2 O 4 did. [14] Graphene is one of the carbon-based nanomaterials with a high electrical conductivity, large surface area, and good mechanical strength, which make it an ideal support for catalyst materials. Incorporating metal and their oxide nanoparticles into graphene creates porous networks that enhance both catalyst activity and its stability.…”