NiCo Alloy Nanoparticles on a N/C Dual‐Doped Matrix as a Cathode Catalyst for Improved Microbial Fuel Cell Performance

Abstract

The cathode material properties of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) have a quite important effect on their power generation capacity. Excellent oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) performance is the key to obtaining the remarkable capability of MFC. In this study, a series of catalysts are successfully prepared by a simple step‐by‐step hydrothermal, in situ growth, solution polymerization, and pyrolysis procedure. Here, the NiCo nanoparticles loading on nitrogen/carbon dual‐doped matrix annealing at 800 °C (NiCo@DNC‐800) under Ar shows good ORR activity with a maximum power density of 2325.60 ± 41.96 mW m−2 in the case of the 2 mg cm−2 minimal catalyst loading, and which is about 2.16 times more than that achieved by 20% Pt/C (1074.21 ± 39.36 mW m−2). The unique N/C duel‐doped matrix provides more graphitic‐N and pyridinic‐N that can reduce the resistance of electron diffusion and transport, together with the synergistic catalysis of NiCo active sites improving the oxygen reduction reaction performance of MFC greatly. In addition, the NiCo@DNC‐800 cathode catalyst demonstrates that composite materials have great application potential in water pollution treatment and new green energy strategies.

Ordered PtCo Intermetallics Featuring Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon Prepared by Surface Coating Strategy for Oxygen Reduction Reaction

“…Meantime, the Pt 4f spectra is deconvoluted into three double peaks, indexed to Pt 0 /Pt 2+ /Pt 4+ (Figure 3b). As is shown in Table S4, it is noted that metallic state Pt presents a larger proportion compared to oxidation state, which probably can promote electrocatalytic activity improvement due to the presence of more active sites on the catalyst surface [24] . In addition, we compare the initial Pt/C with the Pt 4f peak of the PtCo@NC‐X sample.…”

“…As is shown in Table S4, it is noted that metallic state Pt presents a larger proportion compared to oxidation state, which probably can promote electrocatalytic activity improvement due to the presence of more active sites on the catalyst surface. [24] In addition, we compare the initial Pt/ C with the Pt 4f peak of the PtCo@NC-X sample. The Pt 4f7/2 peaks of the as-synthesized PtCo@NC-X samples display different positive shift degrees relative to Pt/C catalyst, which is evaluated as ~0.194 eV for PtCo@NC-40, ~0.462 eV for PtCo@60 and ~0.241 eV for PtCo@80 catalyst (Figure 4a).…”

Outline of microbial fuel cells technology and their significant developments, challenges, and prospects of oxygen reduction electrocatalysts

“…The higher activity resulted from the double Co site of 001 face present in the catalyst (Lin et al, 2021). The NiCo alloy on N-doped carbon showed excellent ORR activity and showed a 2.16 times higher maximum power density of 2,325.60 mW m -2 than that of the Pt/C catalyst which was due to the synergistic effect of NiCo active sites, and graphitic and pyridinic N (Huang et al, 2022).…”

A fluorinated greenhouse gas sensor based on N-doped tin oxide materials

“…[13][14][15] We have modified semiconductor metal oxide materials with different noble metals, but the experimental results showed that it cannot meet our needs for efficient and specific detection of F-type greenhouse gases. Non-metal element-doped semiconductor metal oxides have been widely used in catalysis, [16][17][18][19][20] and have also been tentatively utilized in gas detection as gas sensing materials. For example, the surface of TiO 2 was modified by codoping with N and F, and three kinds of SF 6 decomposition components (SO 2 , SOF 2 and SO 2 F 2 ) were detected.…”