Microbial fuel cells(MFCs)are bio-electrochemical systems that can directly convert the chemical energy contained in an effluent into bioelectricity by the action of microorganisms.The performance of these devices is ...Microbial fuel cells(MFCs)are bio-electrochemical systems that can directly convert the chemical energy contained in an effluent into bioelectricity by the action of microorganisms.The performance of these devices is heavily impacted by the choice of the material that forms the cathode.This work focuses on the assessment of ferroelectric and photocatalytic materials as a new class of non-precious catalysts for MFC cathode construction.A series of cathodes based on mixed oxide solid solution of LiTaO_3with WO_3formulated as Li_(1-x)Ta_(1-x)W_xO_3(x=0,0.10,0.20 and0.25),were prepared and investigated in MFCs.The catalyst phases were synthesized,identified and characterized by DRX,PSD,MET and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy.The cathodes were tested as photoelectrocatalysts in the presence and in the absence of visible light in devices fed with industrial wastewater.The results revealed that the catalytic activity of the cathodes strongly depends on the ratio of substitution of W^(6+)in the LiTaO_3matrix.The maximum power densities generated by the MFC working with this series of cathodes increased from60.45 mW·m^(-3)for x=0.00(LiTaO_3)to 107.2 mW·m^(-3)for x=0.10,showing that insertion of W^(6+)in the tantalate matrix can improve the photocatalytic activity of this material.Moreover,MFCs operating under optimal conditions were capable of reducing the load of chemical oxygen demand by 79%(COD_(initial)=1030 mg·L^(-1)).展开更多
In this work, the use of lithium niobate （LiNbO3）, a ferroelectric and photocatalyst material, is investi- gated as a new type of cathode catalyst for wastewater-fed single-chamber microbial fuel cells （MFCs）. Car...In this work, the use of lithium niobate （LiNbO3）, a ferroelectric and photocatalyst material, is investi- gated as a new type of cathode catalyst for wastewater-fed single-chamber microbial fuel cells （MFCs）. Carbon cloth electrodes coated with LiNbO3 were studied with and without UV-vis irradiation to assess its photocatalytic behavior in these devices. The synthesized phase of LiNbO3 was characterized by X- ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, particle size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The MFC containing a LiNbO3-based cathode exhibited a maximum open circuit potential and power output of 400 mV and 131 mW/m^3, respectively, under irradiation. This cathode configuration also achieved the maximum chemical oxygen demand removal of 84% after 120 h of MFC operation. These results show that ferroelectric materials such as LiNbO3 could be used as cathode cat- alysts in MFC devices. As a complementary analysis, the removal of the heavy metals detected in the wastewater was also monitored.展开更多
基金partially supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation(MICINN)by the FEDER(Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional),ref.CICYT ENE2011-25188by the Seneca Foundation 18975/JLI/2013 grants
文摘Microbial fuel cells(MFCs)are bio-electrochemical systems that can directly convert the chemical energy contained in an effluent into bioelectricity by the action of microorganisms.The performance of these devices is heavily impacted by the choice of the material that forms the cathode.This work focuses on the assessment of ferroelectric and photocatalytic materials as a new class of non-precious catalysts for MFC cathode construction.A series of cathodes based on mixed oxide solid solution of LiTaO_3with WO_3formulated as Li_(1-x)Ta_(1-x)W_xO_3(x=0,0.10,0.20 and0.25),were prepared and investigated in MFCs.The catalyst phases were synthesized,identified and characterized by DRX,PSD,MET and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy.The cathodes were tested as photoelectrocatalysts in the presence and in the absence of visible light in devices fed with industrial wastewater.The results revealed that the catalytic activity of the cathodes strongly depends on the ratio of substitution of W^(6+)in the LiTaO_3matrix.The maximum power densities generated by the MFC working with this series of cathodes increased from60.45 mW·m^(-3)for x=0.00(LiTaO_3)to 107.2 mW·m^(-3)for x=0.10,showing that insertion of W^(6+)in the tantalate matrix can improve the photocatalytic activity of this material.Moreover,MFCs operating under optimal conditions were capable of reducing the load of chemical oxygen demand by 79%(COD_(initial)=1030 mg·L^(-1)).
文摘In this work, the use of lithium niobate （LiNbO3）, a ferroelectric and photocatalyst material, is investi- gated as a new type of cathode catalyst for wastewater-fed single-chamber microbial fuel cells （MFCs）. Carbon cloth electrodes coated with LiNbO3 were studied with and without UV-vis irradiation to assess its photocatalytic behavior in these devices. The synthesized phase of LiNbO3 was characterized by X- ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, particle size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The MFC containing a LiNbO3-based cathode exhibited a maximum open circuit potential and power output of 400 mV and 131 mW/m^3, respectively, under irradiation. This cathode configuration also achieved the maximum chemical oxygen demand removal of 84% after 120 h of MFC operation. These results show that ferroelectric materials such as LiNbO3 could be used as cathode cat- alysts in MFC devices. As a complementary analysis, the removal of the heavy metals detected in the wastewater was also monitored.
