Boosting DMFC power output by adding sulfuric acid as a supporting electrolyte: Effect on cell performance equipped with platinum and platinum group metal-free cathodes

Mono-, bi- and tri-metallic Fe-based platinum group metal-free electrocatalysts derived from phthalocyanine for oxygen reduction reaction in alkaline media

“…As reported previously, 5 mg of electrocatalyst was mixed with 985 mL of isopropanol and 15 mL of 5 wt% Nafion® D-520 ionomer solution to prepare the inks. 60,102,103 After ink preparation, it was deposited using a micropipette over the glassy carbon disk acting as the working electrode. Generally, in electrochemical measurement of ORR in alkaline media the potential scan range is between 1.2 and 0 V vs. RHE.…”

Sustainable circular biorefinery approach for novel building blocks and bioenergy production from algae using microbial fuel cell

“…In addition to the type of electron acceptor, catalyst activity is also a crucial factor in the performance of the EF cathode [ 84 ]. Giordano et al [ 85 ] further boosted the power output of the EF system from 70 mW/cm 2 to 115 mW/cm 2 by applying 0.1 M sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) as a supporting catholyte. This result underlined the positive effect of adding H 2 SO 4 as a supporting catholyte in the EF cathodic chamber on the catalyst activity and electrochemical output [ 85 ].…”

“…Giordano et al [ 85 ] further boosted the power output of the EF system from 70 mW/cm 2 to 115 mW/cm 2 by applying 0.1 M sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) as a supporting catholyte. This result underlined the positive effect of adding H 2 SO 4 as a supporting catholyte in the EF cathodic chamber on the catalyst activity and electrochemical output [ 85 ]. The addition of H 2 SO 4 as a supporting electrolyte improves the overall ionic conductivity of the system for electron transfer between cathode and anode as H 2 SO 4 dissociates in water to release hydrogen ions (protons) and sulfate ions.…”

“…In fact, proton transfer is essential to the overall electrochemical reaction occurring in the EF system [ 82 ]. Besides, the sulfate ions generated from the dissociation of H 2 SO 4 can act as the ion exchange sites of PEM due to sulfate ions approaching the behavior of sulfonic groups in Nafion®, increasing the mobility of protons through the membrane [ 85 ].…”

Giving New Life to Waste Cigarette Butts: Transformation into Platinum Group Metal-Free Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Acid, Neutral and Alkaline Environment

“…Thus, also in MFCs, the best electrocatalytic activity for ORR is provided by M-N x -C electrocatalysts being resilient, low cost and effective [38,39]. M-N x -C-based cathodes are also effective in Direct Methanol Fuel Cells (DMFC) as they resist the OCV drop due to the fuel crossover which is a typical problem with PGM cathode electrocatalysts [40,41]. In the context of low-temperature FCs, several studies have supported the circular economy by developing novel synthetic pathways that can convert carbonaceous waste into PGM-free ORR electrocatalysts via pyrolysis [42][43][44][45][46].…”