Effect of CuO/ZnO/FTO electrode properties on the performance of a photo-microbial fuel cell sensor for the detection of heavy metals

Yue Lu; Xingxin Hu; Lin Tang; Bo Peng; Jin Tang; Taotao Zeng; XunkuoZhang; Qian Liu

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134779

Effect of CuO/ZnO/FTO electrode properties on the performance of a photo-microbial fuel cell sensor for the detection of heavy metals

Chemosphere. 2022 Sep:302:134779. doi: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134779. Epub 2022 May 2.

Authors

Yue Lu¹, Xingxin Hu², Lin Tang³, Bo Peng⁴, Jin Tang², Taotao Zeng⁵, XunkuoZhang², Qian Liu²

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China. Electronic address: yuelu@hnu.edu.cn.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China.
³ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China. Electronic address: tanglin@hnu.edu.cn.
⁴ College of Geographic Science, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, 410081, PR China.
⁵ Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, Hunan, China.

PMID: 35513075
DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134779

Abstract

The development of sustainable, low-cost and responsive technology for heavy metals detection in wastewater is crucial. In this study, by combining CuO/ZnO photocathode with microbial anode, a novel photo-microbial fuel cell (PMFC) sensor was developed. The self-powered PMFC was performed under light and dark condition for heavy metals detection. Compared with MFC sensor, PMFC sensor showed a wider detection range (0.1-4 mg L^-1 of Cd²⁺ and 10-80 mg L^-1 of Cu²⁺). The improved performance in sensing limit and sensitivity was mainly attributed to the intimate P-N heterojunctions formed in CuO/ZnO, which accelerated the electron transport between the photocathode and the microbial anode. Besides, the toxicity of five heavy metals tested in PMFC was shown as Cd²⁺>Cr⁶⁺>Zn²⁺>Hg²⁺>Cu²⁺. This study has taken advantage of the characteristics of PMFC and facilitated its application in heavy metals detection, which provides a new approach for the development of biosensors.

Keywords: Biosensor; Heavy metal; Microbial fuel cell; Photocatalysis; Self-powered.

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Cadmium
Copper
Electrodes
Metals, Heavy* / toxicity
Zinc Oxide* / toxicity

Substances

Metals, Heavy
Cadmium
Copper
Zinc Oxide
cupric oxide