Journal of Power Sources, Vol.196, No.20, 8409-8412, 2011
The use of double-sided cloth without diffusion layers as air-cathode in microbial fuel cells
The cost of electrode materials is one of the most important factors limiting the scale of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, a novel double-sided cloth (DC) without diffusion layer is using as air-cathode, which decreases the cost and simplifies electrode production process. Using Pt as catalyst, the maximum power density of MFC using DC cathode is 0.70 +/- 0.02 W m(-2), which is similar to that obtained using carbon cloth (CC) cathodes (0.66 +/- 0.01W m(-2)). After running in stable status, the Coulombic efficiencies (CEs) (18 +/- 1%) and COD removal rates (75 +/- 3%) are almost the same as those of CC cathode with diffusion layers. Using carbon powder as catalyst on the DC cathode, the maximum powder density is 0.41 +/- 0.01 W m(-2), with a COD removal rate of 66 2% and a CE of 13.9 +/- 0.5%. The total cost of cathode based on power output decreases as follows: CC with Pt (CC-Pt, 2652$W(-1)), DC with Pt (DC-Pt, 1007$W(-1)) and DC with carbon powder (DC-C, 22$ W(-1)), showing that DC is an inexpensive and promising cathode material for future applications. Crown Copyright (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.