Nanostructured gas diffusion layer to improve direct oxygen reduction reaction in Air-Cathode Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

Giulia Massaglia,Candido F Pirri,Marzia Quaglio,Eve Verpoorten

doi:10.1051/e3sconf/202233404012

Abstract

The aim of this work is the development of new nanostructured-gas-diffusion-layer (GDL) to improve the overall behaviour of Air-Cathode Single-Chamber-Microbial-Fuel-Cells (SCMFCs). The design of new nanostructured-GDL allowed exploiting all nanofibers ’intrinsic properties, such as high surface ratio to volume, high porosity, achieving thus a good oxygen diffusion into the proximity of catalyst layer, favouring thus the direct oxygen-reduction-reaction (ORR). Nanostructured-GDLs were prepared by electrospinning process, using a layer-by-layer deposition to collect 2 nanofibers’ mats. The first layer was made of cellulose nanofibers able to promote oxygen diffusion into SCMFC. The second layer, placed outwards, was based on polyvinyl-fluoride (PVDF) nanofibers to prevent the electrolyte leakage. This nanostructured-GDL plays a pivotal role to improve the overall performance of Air-Cathode-SCMFCs. A maximum current density of 20 mA m-2 was obtained, which is higher than the one reached with commercial-GDL, used as reference material. All results were analysed in terms of energy recovery parameter, defined as ratio of generated power integral and the internal volume of devices, evaluating the overall SCMFC performance. SCMFCs with a nanostructured-GDL showed an energy recovery equal to 60.83 mJ m-3, which was one order of magnitude higher than the one obtained with commercial-GDL, close to 3.92 mJ m-3.

Highlights

Renewable energy sources play a pivotal role to ensure the transition from carbon-based economies towards sustainable human development [1]
The nanostructured cathode electrode may be done by carbon nanofibers doped with nitrogen (N-CNFs), which play a pivotal role as promising catalyst layer for direct oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) as demonstrated in our previous work [11] and can be employed as a carbon backbone to ensure the electron transfer produced and released by microorganisms into the anode compartment
Nanostructured-GDL are characterized by pores with dimensions in the range of few micrometres, leading to exhibit a higher surface area to volume ratio than the one obtained with commercial gas diffusion layers These intrinsic properties of nanofibers play a pivotal role into the enhancement of oxygen diffusion inside the devices, improving direct ORR

Summary

Introduction

Renewable energy sources play a pivotal role to ensure the transition from carbon-based economies towards sustainable human development [1]. SCMFCs with a nanostructured-GDL showed an energy recovery equal to 60.83 mJ m-3, which was one order of magnitude higher than the one obtained with commercial-GDL, close to 3.92 mJ m-3 All these latter results open the doors to design the entire nanostructured cathode electrode in SCMFCs. The nanostructured cathode electrode may be done by carbon nanofibers doped with nitrogen (N-CNFs), which play a pivotal role as promising catalyst layer for direct ORR as demonstrated in our previous work [11] and can be employed as a carbon backbone to ensure the electron transfer produced and released by microorganisms into the anode compartment

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion