3D porous carbon materials in situ-embedded with Fe3C/Fe nanoparticles as high-performance anode electrocatalysts of microbial fuel cells

IF 7.4 2区工程技术 Q1 ENGINEERING, CHEMICAL

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering Pub Date : 2025-03-15 DOI:10.1016/j.jece.2025.116171

Shaochuan Wang , Dongsheng Zhao , Zhenghui Qiu , Guiling Zhang , Cunguo Lin

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

The power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) depends on the biofilm activity on the anode and the electron transfer efficiency between electrode and microbes. Therefore, enhancing the biocompatibility and conductivity of the anode is the key to improving MFCs performance. In this work, a series of porous carbon (PC) materials with core-shell nanoparticles (carbon shell, Fe₃C/Fe core), denoted as Fe₃C/Fe@PC_X, were prepared using a nitrate-assisted polymer bubbling method by pyrolyzing polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with ferric nitrate (Fe(NO₃)₃). These materials were coated on carbon felt (CF) to serve as the modified anode for the MFCs. An optimal foaming agent dosage led to a porous structure (Fe₃C/Fe@PC_1.8), giving the anode excellent surface morphology, conductivity, and biocompatibility, thereby enhancing the enrichment of dominant electroactive microorganisms and biofilm activity, and significantly improving electron transfer efficiency and MFC power output. The anode resistance (R_anode) of the MFCs equipped with the Fe₃C/Fe@PC_1.8-CF is only 131.50 Ω, significantly lower than that of the control group (2449.00 Ω). The maximum output voltage reaches 0.687 V, and the power density is 4.90 W/m², which are 1.46 and 2.28 times greater than the control group, respectively. The superior performance of the modified anode demonstrates significant potential for application in high-performance MFCs.

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来源期刊

Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering Environmental Science-Pollution

CiteScore

11.40

自引率

6.50%

发文量

2017

审稿时长

27 days

期刊介绍： The Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering (JECE) serves as a platform for the dissemination of original and innovative research focusing on the advancement of environmentally-friendly, sustainable technologies. JECE emphasizes the transition towards a carbon-neutral circular economy and a self-sufficient bio-based economy. Topics covered include soil, water, wastewater, and air decontamination; pollution monitoring, prevention, and control; advanced analytics, sensors, impact and risk assessment methodologies in environmental chemical engineering; resource recovery (water, nutrients, materials, energy); industrial ecology; valorization of waste streams; waste management (including e-waste); climate-water-energy-food nexus; novel materials for environmental, chemical, and energy applications; sustainability and environmental safety; water digitalization, water data science, and machine learning; process integration and intensification; recent developments in green chemistry for synthesis, catalysis, and energy; and original research on contaminants of emerging concern, persistent chemicals, and priority substances, including microplastics, nanoplastics, nanomaterials, micropollutants, antimicrobial resistance genes, and emerging pathogens (viruses, bacteria, parasites) of environmental significance.