Application of Co-naphthalocyanine (CoNPc) as alternative cathode catalyst and support structure for microbial fuel cells

Bioresour Technol. 2011 Jan;102(1):342-7. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.07.005. Epub 2010 Jul 24.

Abstract

Co-naphthalocyanine (CoNPc) was prepared by heat treatment for cathode catalysts to be used in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Four different catalysts (Carbon black, NPc/C, CoNPc/C, Pt/C) were compared and characterized using XPS, EDAX and TEM. The electrochemical characteristics of oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) were compared by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). The Co-macrocyclic complex improves the catalyst dispersion and oxygen reduction reaction of CoNPc/C. The maximum power of CoNPc/C was 64.7 mW/m(2) at 0.25 mA as compared with 81.3 mW/m(2) of Pt/C, 29.7 mW/m(2) of NPc/C and 9.3 mW/m(2) of carbon black when the cathodes were implemented in H-type MFCs. The steady state cell, cathode and anode potential of MFC with using CoNPc/C were comparable to those of Pt/C.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bioelectric Energy Sources / microbiology*
  • Catalysis
  • Cobalt / chemistry*
  • Coordination Complexes / chemistry*
  • Electricity
  • Electrochemistry
  • Electrodes
  • Electron Probe Microanalysis / methods
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission / methods
  • Naphthalenes / chemistry*
  • Organometallic Compounds / chemistry*
  • Oxidation-Reduction
  • Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / methods
  • Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared / methods

Substances

  • Coordination Complexes
  • Naphthalenes
  • Organometallic Compounds
  • Cobalt