Core-shell Au-Pd nanoparticles as cathode catalysts for microbial fuel cell applications

Abstract

Bimetallic nanoparticles with core-shell structures usually display enhanced catalytic properties due to the lattice strain created between the core and shell regions. In this study, we demonstrate the application of bimetallic Au-Pd nanoparticles with an Au core and a thin Pd shell as cathode catalysts in microbial fuel cells, which represent a promising technology for wastewater treatment, while directly generating electrical energy. In specific, in comparison with the hollow structured Pt nanoparticles, a benchmark for the electrocatalysis, the bimetallic core-shell Au-Pd nanoparticles are found to have superior activity and stability for oxygen reduction reaction in a neutral condition due to the strong electronic interaction and lattice strain effect between the Au core and the Pd shell domains. The maximum power density generated in a membraneless single-chamber microbial fuel cell running on wastewater with core-shell Au-Pd as cathode catalysts is ca. 16.0 W m−3 and remains stable over 150 days, clearly illustrating the potential of core-shell nanostructures in the applications of microbial fuel cells.

Variation of SMSI with the Au:Pd Ratio of Bimetallic Nanoparticles on TiO2(110)

“…Pd–Au alloyed catalysts have proved to be excellent catalysts for a number of chemical processes such as the acetoxylation of ethylene to vinyl acetate [12, 20], solvent-free oxidation of primary alcohols to aldehydes [21] and direct synthesis of H 2 O 2 from H 2 and O 2 [22]. Recently, it has been demonstrated that Au-core Pd-shell NPs in microbial fuel cells exhibit enhanced catalytic activity in wastewater treatment technology [23].…”

Synthesis of molybdenum oxide nanoparticles by nanosecond laser ablation

“…Fig. 5 shows representative EDX line scans images, it can be seen in both NPs scanned that they are composed mainly of molybdenum and some oxygen, and the elemental distribution may correspond to a core-shell type NS [45,46], in which the core is made of metallic molybdenum shown with a blue line in the spectra, and it is surrounded by molybdenum oxide which corresponds to the superposition of blue and green lines in the spectra, as proposed in Ref. [30].…”

Cubic Palladium Nanorattles with Solid Octahedron Gold Core for Catalysis and Alkaline Membrane Fuel Cell Applications

“…Yang et al. investigated the application of core‐shell Au‐Pd nanoparticles as a cathodic electrocatalyst in microbial fuel cells, and estimated 16 W m −3 of maximum power density . Modibedi et al.…”