Co0.85Se/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Composite as Alternative Cathode Catalyst for Microbial Fuel Cells

In this paper, we reported the fabrication, characterization, and application of carbon nanotube (CNT)-platinum nanocomposite as a novel generation of cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sustainable energy production and wastewater treatment. The efficiency of the carbon nanocomposites was compared by platinum (Pt), which is the most effective and common cathode catalyst. This nanocomposite is utilized to benefit from the catalytic properties of CNTs and reduce the amount of required Pt, as it is an expensive catalyst. The CNT/Pt nanocomposites were synthesized via a chemical reduction technique and the electrodes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, electronic dispersive X-Ray analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites were applied as cathode catalysts in the MFC to obtain polarization curve and coulombic efficiency (CE) results. The catalytic properties of electrodes were tested by linear sweep voltammetry. The CNT/Pt at the concentration of 0.3 mg/cm2 had the highest performance in terms of CE (47.16%), internal resistance (551 Ω), COD removal (88.9%), and power generation (143 mW/m2). In contrast, for the electrode with 0.5 mg/L of Pt catalyst, CE, internal resistance, COD removal, and power generation were 19%, 810 Ω, 96%, and 84.1 mW/m2, respectively. So, it has been found that carbon nanocomposite cathode electrodes had better performance for sustainable clean energy production and COD removal by MFC.

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Polyelectrolyte–single wall carbon nanotube composite as an effective cathode catalyst for air-cathode microbial fuel cells

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2014.416 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 70 (10) ◽

pp. 1610-1616 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Huanan Wu ◽

Min Lu ◽

Lin Guo ◽

Leonard Guan Hong Bay ◽

Zheng Zhang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Oxygen Reduction ◽

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

Reduction Process ◽

Air Cathode ◽

Single Wall Carbon Nanotube ◽

Single Wall Carbon ◽

Cathode Catalysts ◽

Metal Free

Polyelectrolyte–single wall carbon nanotube (SCNT) composites are prepared by a solution-based method and used as metal-free cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, two types of polyelectrolytes, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) and poly[bis(2-chloroethyl)ether-alt-1,3-bis[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]urea] (PEPU) are applied to decorate the SCNTs and the resulting catalysts exhibit remarkable catalytic ability toward ORR in MFC applications. The enhanced catalytic ability could be attributed to the positively charged quaternary ammonium sites of polyelectrolytes, which increase the oxygen affinity of SCNTs and reduce activation energy in the oxygen reduction process. It is also found that PEPU–SCNT composite-based MFCs show efficient performance with maximum power density of 270.1 mW m−2, comparable to MFCs with the benchmark Pt/C catalyst (375.3 mW m−2), while PDDA–SCNT composite-based MFCs produce 188.9 mW m−2. These results indicate that PEPU–SCNT and PDDA–SCNT catalysts are promising candidates as metal-free cathode catalysts for ORR in MFCs and could facilitate MFC scaling up and commercialization.

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Preparation and characterization of sulfonated poly(1,3,4-oxadiazole)/multi-walled carbon nanotube composite films with high performance in electric heating and thermal stability

Composites Part B Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.compositesb.2015.03.033 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 77 ◽

pp. 162-168 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Eunbin Lee ◽

Young Gyu Jeong

Keyword(s):

Thermal Stability ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

High Performance ◽

Composite Films ◽

Electric Heating ◽

Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube ◽

Carbon Nanotube Composite ◽

Sulfonated Poly

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Mechanical Properties Of Polyaniline / Multi-walled Carbon Nanotube Composite Films

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-791-q10.3 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 791 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

P. C. Ramamurthy ◽

W. R. Harrell ◽

R. V. Gregory ◽

B. Sadanadan ◽

A. M. Rao

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Carbon Nanotubes ◽

Carbon Nanotube ◽

Composite Films ◽

Weight Percent ◽

Organic Electronic Devices ◽

Multiwalled Carbon ◽

Multi Walled Carbon Nanotube ◽

Contact Devices ◽

Carbon Nanotube Composite

ABSTRACTHigh molecular weight polyaniline / multi-walled carbon nanotube composite films were fabricated using solution processing. Composite films with various weight percentages of multiwalled carbon nanotubes were fabricated. Physical properties of these composites were analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis, tensile testing, and scanning electron microscopy. These results indicate that the addition of multiwalled nanotubes to polyaniline significantly enhances the mechanical properties of the films. In addition, metal–semiconductor (composite) (MS) contact devices were fabricated, and it was observed that the current level in the films increased with increasing multiwalled nanotube content. Furthermore, it was observed that polyaniline containing one weight percent of carbon nanotubes appears to be the most promising composition for applications in organic electronic devices.

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