Novel Strontium/Iron Bimetallic Carbon Composites as Synergistic Catalyst for Oxygen Reduction Reaction in Microbial Fuel Cells

Autor: Xianjie Liu, Jia Yan, Wang Yan, Zhong Kengqiang, Han Li, Henghui You, Shi Huihui, Samuel Raj Babu Arulmani, Huang Lei, Fei Guo, Dai Yi, Xiao Tangfu, Hongguo Zhang, Minhua Su
Rok vydání: 2021
Předmět:
Zdroj: Electrocatalysis. 12:759-770
ISSN: 1868-5994
1868-2529
DOI: 10.1007/s12678-021-00679-2
Popis: It is critical to develop non-noble metal (NNM) electrocatalysts with excellent stability and innovative activity for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in the microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which is a promising energy conversion technology. Herein, the preparation of iron carbide electrocatalysts (SrCO3/Fe3C) by the pyrolysis of a bimetal precursor (Sr and Fe) is proposed as a feasible strategy to realize a highly active electrocatalyst for ORR. Based on the catalytic potential of Sr-based materials, Fe species doping can provide more beneficial active sites for ORR. Concisely, the SrCO3/Fe3C(1:12) catalyst achieves the onset potential of 0.197 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) superior than Pt/C catalyst (0.193 V vs. Ag/AgCl) and the half-wave potential of −0.157 V (vs. Ag/AgCl) in 0.1-M KOH solution. Furthermore, the electrocatalyst exhibits nearly four-electron pathway, and generates less than 3% H2O2. Compared with Pt/C catalyst, it possesses preferable stability and superior methanol tolerance. Moreover, a composite electrode with SrCO3/Fe3C(1:12) as a catalyst on the carbon cloth demonstrated a superb air cathode in MFCs with a power density of 398.98 mW m−2, which can outperform than 10 wt% Pt/C catalysts (342.13 mW m−2) on MFCs.
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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