Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device where a carbon-rich waste material gets oxidized, releasing protons (H+) and electrons (e−), and thus generating bioelectricity. The e− generated from the anodic biocatalyst are transported through an exterior circuit to the cathode. In the meantime, H+ move through the solution to the cathode and combine with e− and oxygen to form a water molecule. Nevertheless, without suitable cathode catalysts, the oxygen reduction reaction kinetics are very low, which limit the overall MFC performance. Hence, catalysts play a vital role in the real-field uses of MFCs. The best catalyst should be scalable, stable, and inexpensive. In recent years, numerous catalysts have been developed to enhance cathode redox reactions in MFCs, including metal-based catalysts, metal–carbon hybrids, metal–nitrogen–carbon complexes, carbon-based catalysts, and biocatalysts. This chapter provides preliminary information on these materials with the prominence on their synthesis, performance, and application in MFCs.
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