Infiuence of PTFE in the external Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) of open-air cathodes applied tomembranelessmicrobial fuel cells (MFCs) is investigated in thiswork. Electrochemicalmeasurements on cathodeswith different PTFE contents (200%, 100%, 80% and 60%)were carried out to characterize cathodic oxygen reduction reaction, to study the reaction kinetics. It is demonstrated that ORR is not under diffusion-limiting conditions in the tested systems. Based on cyclic voltammetry, an increase of the cathodic electrochemical active area took placewith the decrease of PTFE content. This was not directly related to MFC productivity, but to the cathode wettability and the biocathode development. Low electrodic interface resistances (from 1 to 1.5 Ω at the start, to near 0.1 Ω at day 61) indicated a negligible ohmic drop. A decrease of the Tafel slopes from120 to 80mV during productive periods of MFCs followed the biological activity in the whole MFC system. A high PTFE content in the cathode showed a detrimental effect on the MFC productivity, acting as an inhibitor of ORR electrocatalysis in the triple contact zone. The lowest PTFE content (60%) manifested mechanical instability of the cathode, together with the best performance.

PTFE effect on the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction in membraneless microbial fuel cells / E. Guerrini, M. Grattieri, A. Faggianelli, P. Cristiani, S. Trasatti. - In: BIOELECTROCHEMISTRY. - ISSN 1567-5394. - 106:Pt A(2015 Dec), pp. 240-247. [10.1016/j.bioelechem.2015.05.008]

PTFE effect on the electrocatalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction in membraneless microbial fuel cells

E. Guerrini
;
M. Grattieri
Secondo
;
S. Trasatti
Ultimo
2015

Abstract

Infiuence of PTFE in the external Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) of open-air cathodes applied tomembranelessmicrobial fuel cells (MFCs) is investigated in thiswork. Electrochemicalmeasurements on cathodeswith different PTFE contents (200%, 100%, 80% and 60%)were carried out to characterize cathodic oxygen reduction reaction, to study the reaction kinetics. It is demonstrated that ORR is not under diffusion-limiting conditions in the tested systems. Based on cyclic voltammetry, an increase of the cathodic electrochemical active area took placewith the decrease of PTFE content. This was not directly related to MFC productivity, but to the cathode wettability and the biocathode development. Low electrodic interface resistances (from 1 to 1.5 Ω at the start, to near 0.1 Ω at day 61) indicated a negligible ohmic drop. A decrease of the Tafel slopes from120 to 80mV during productive periods of MFCs followed the biological activity in the whole MFC system. A high PTFE content in the cathode showed a detrimental effect on the MFC productivity, acting as an inhibitor of ORR electrocatalysis in the triple contact zone. The lowest PTFE content (60%) manifested mechanical instability of the cathode, together with the best performance.
Biocathode; Gas Diffusion Layer; Microbial fuel cells; Oxygen reduction; PTFE; Catalysis; Electric Capacitance; Electric Conductivity; Electrochemistry; Oxidation-Reduction; Oxygen; Polytetrafluoroethylene; Surface Properties; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Biophysics; Electrochemistry; Physical and Theoretical Chemistry; Medicine (all)
Settore ING-IND/23 - Chimica Fisica Applicata
dic-2015
Article (author)
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
1-s2.0-S1567539415000663-main.pdf

accesso riservato

Tipologia: Publisher's version/PDF
Dimensione 897.21 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
897.21 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/450521
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 10
  • Scopus 40
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 33
social impact