Electrical performance of low cost cathodes prepared by plasma sputtering deposition in microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) could potentially be utilized for a variety of applications in the future from biosensors to wastewater treatment. However, the amount of costly platinum (Pt) used as a catalyst should be minimized via innovative deposition methods such as sputtering. In addition, alternative and low-cost catalysts, such as cobalt (Co), should be sought. In this study, ultra low Pt or Co cathodes (0.1mgcm -2) were manufactured by plasma sputtering deposition and scanning electron micrographs revealed nano-clusters of metal catalyst in a porous structure favorable to the three-phase heterogeneous catalytic reaction. When operated in single-chamber air-cathode MFCs, sputtered-Co cathodes generated on average the same power as sputtered-Pt cathodes (0.27mWcell -1) and only 27% less than conventional Pt-ink cathodes with a catalyst load 5 times higher (0.5mgcm -2). Finally, microscopy and molecular analyses showed evidence of biocatalysis activity on metal-free cathodes. © 2011 Elsevier B.V.