TiO2/CdS composite photocathode improves the performance and degradation of wastewater in microbial fuel cells.

Abstract

Optimization of dye decolourization for wastewater and power production are explored in dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with TiO2/CdS photocathodes. The rapid reduction of azo dye methylene blue (MB) and power production were enhanced with TiO2/CdS photocathode under illumination. The analysis of electrochemical impedance spectra indicated that the photocatalysis of TiO2/CdS accelerated the electron transfer process of photoelectrode reduction. Moreover, the UV-visible light spectrophotometer showed that the maximum degradation of the MFCs was 98.25%, which illustrated that MB may be cleaved by photoelectrons generated by light irradiation on the illuminated TiO2/CdS photocathode. Finally, the power production of MFCs in this work promoted reductive decolourization of the dye MB solution.