Home Nano Research Article
Article Link
Cite
EndNote(RIS) BibTeX
Collect
Submit Manuscript
Show Outline
Outline
Graphical Abstract
Abstract
Keywords
Electronic Supplementary Material
References
Show full outline
Hide outline
Research Article

Tuning electrospinning hierarchically porous nanowires anode for enhanced bioelectrocatalysis in microbial fuel cells

Shiwei Qian1,§, Xiaoshuai Wu2,§(), Zhuanzhuan Shi2, Xiaofen Li2, Xin Sun1, Yongjia Ma1, Wei Sun3, Chunxian Guo2, ChangMing Li1,2()
Institute for Advanced Cross-field Science and College of Life Science, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266071, China
Institute of Materials Science and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Suzhou University of Science and Technology, Suzhou 215011, China
College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Hainan Normal University, Haikou 571158, China

§ Shiwei Qian and Xiaoshuai Wu contributed equally to this work.

Show Author Information

Graphical Abstract

View original image Download original image
A nanowires-material is delicately tailored for an optimal hierarchically porous structure and is furtherused as an anode of microbial fuel cells, delivering a maximum output power density of 1,407.42 mW·m–2.

Abstract

Pore structure plays critical roles in electrode kinetics but very challenging to tailor porous nanowires with rationally distributed pore sizes in a bioelectrochemical system. Herein a hierarchically porous nanowires-material is delicately tuned for an optimal pore structure by adjusting the weight percentage of SiO2-hard template in an electrospinning precursor solution. The as-prepared optimal electrospinning nanowires further used as an anode of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), delivering a maximum output power density of 1,407.42 mW·m−2 with 4.24 and 10 times higher than that of the non-porous fiber and carbon cloth anode, respectively. The great enhancement is attributed to the rational pore structure which offers the largest surface area while the rich-mesopores well match with the size of electron mediators for a high density of catalytic centers. This work provides thoughtful insights to design of hierarchical porous electrode for high-performance MFCs and other bioelectrochemical system devices.

Keywords

hierarchically porous nanowiresmicrobial fuel cellsinterfacial electron transferbiofilm

Electronic Supplementary Material

Download File(s)
12274_2022_4120_MOESM1_ESM.pdf (1.2 MB)

References

1

Li, M.; Zhou, S. Q. Efficacy of Cu(II) as an electron-shuttle mediator for improved bioelectricity generation and Cr(VI) reduction in microbial fuel cells. Bioresour. Technol. 2019, 273, 122–129.

Crossref Google Scholar
2

Tian, X. L.; Lu, X. F.; Xia, B. Y.; Lou, X. W. Advanced electrocatalysts for the oxygen reduction reaction in energy conversion technologies. Joule 2020, 4, 45–68.

Crossref Google Scholar
3

Zhao, C. E.; Gai, P. P.; Song, R. B.; Chen, Y.; Zhang, J. R.; Zhu, J. J. Nanostructured material-based biofuel cells: Recent advances and future prospects. Chem. Soc. Rev. 2017, 46, 1545–1564.

Crossref Google Scholar
4

Lovley, D. R.; Holmes, D. E. Electromicrobiology: The ecophysiology of phylogenetically diverse electroactive microorganisms. Nat. Rev. Microbiol 2022, 20, 5–19.

Crossref Google Scholar
5

Schröder, U.; Harnisch, F. Life electric—Nature as a blueprint for the development of microbial electrochemical technologies. Joule 2017, 1, 244–252.

Crossref Google Scholar
6

Logan, B. E.; Rabaey, K. Conversion of wastes into bioelectricity and chemicals by using microbial electrochemical technologies. Science 2012, 337, 686–690.

Crossref Google Scholar
7

Logan, B. E.; Elimelech, M. Membrane-based processes for sustainable power generation using water. Nature 2012, 488, 313–319.

Crossref Google Scholar
8
Zhu, Q.; Hu, J. P.; Liu, B. C.; Hu, S. G.; Liang, S.; Xiao, K. K.; Yang, J. K.; Hou, H. J. Recent advances on the development of functional materials in microbial fuel cells: From fundamentals to challenges and outlooks. Energy Environ. Mater., in press, DOI: 10.1002/eem2.12173.
9

Su, Y. D.; McCuskey, S. R.; Leifert, D.; Moreland, A. S.; Zhou, L. Y.; Llanes, L. C.; Vazquez, R. J.; Sepunaru, L.; Bazan, G. C. A living biotic-abiotic composite that can switch function between current generation and electrochemical energy storage. Adv. Funct. Mater. 2021, 31, 2007351.

Crossref Google Scholar
10

Mei, T.; Cong, C.; Huang, Q.; Song, T. S.; Xie, J. J. Effect of 3D carbon electrodes with different pores on solid-phase microbial fuel cell. Energy Fuels 2020, 34, 16765–16771.

Crossref Google Scholar
11

Santoro, C.; Arbizzani, C.; Erable, B.; Ieropoulos, I. Microbial fuel cells: From fundamentals to applications. A review. J. Power Sources 2017, 356, 225–244.

Crossref Google Scholar
12

He, Y. H.; Tan, Q.; Lu, L. L.; Sokolowski, J.; Wu, G. Metal-nitrogen-carbon catalysts for oxygen reduction in PEM fuel cells: Self-template synthesis approach to enhancing catalytic activity and stability. Electrochem. Energy Rev. 2019, 2, 231–251.

Crossref Google Scholar
13

Trapero, J. R.; Horcajada, L.; Linares, J. J.; Lobato, J. Is microbial fuel cell technology ready? An economic answer towards industrial commercialization. Appl. Energy 2017, 185, 698–707.

Crossref Google Scholar
14

Sonawane, J. M.; Yadav, A.; Ghosh, P. C.; Adeloju, S. B. Recent advances in the development and utilization of modern anode materials for high performance microbial fuel cells. Biosens. Bioelectron. 2017, 90, 558–576.

Crossref Google Scholar
15

Kumar, R.; Singh, L.; Zularisam, A. W. Enhanced oxygen reduction reaction in air-cathode microbial fuel cells using flower-like Co3O4 as an efficient cathode catalyst. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2017, 42, 19287–19295.

Crossref Google Scholar
16

Birry, L.; Mehta, P.; Jaouen, F.; Dodelet, J. P.; Guiot, S. R.; Tartakovsky, B. Application of iron-based cathode catalysts in a microbial fuel cell. Electrochim. Acta 2011, 56, 1505–1511.

Crossref Google Scholar
17

Ben Liew, K.; Daud, W. R. W.; Ghasemi, M.; Leong, J. X.; Lim, S. S.; Ismail, M. Non-Pt catalyst as oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells: A review. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2014, 39, 4870–4883.

Crossref Google Scholar
18

Tao, L.; Xie, M. S.; Chiew, G. G. Y.; Wang, Z. J.; Chen, W. N.; Wang, X. Improving electron trans-inner membrane movements in microbial electrocatalysts. Chem. Commun. 2016, 52, 6292–6295.

Crossref Google Scholar
19

Yuan, H. Y.; Hou, Y.; Abu-Reesh, I. M.; Chen, J. H.; He, Z. Oxygen reduction reaction catalysts used in microbial fuel cells for energy-efficient wastewater treatment: A review. Mater. Horiz. 2016, 3, 382–401.

Crossref Google Scholar
20

Mousavi, M. R.; Ghasemi, S.; Sanaee, Z.; Nejad, Z. G.; Mardanpour, M. M.; Yaghmaei, S.; Ghorbanzadeh, M. Improvement of the microfluidic microbial fuel cell using a nickel nanostructured electrode and microchannel modifications. J. Power Sources 2019, 437, 226891.

Crossref Google Scholar
21

Rethinasabapathy, M.; Vilian, A. T. E.; Hwang, S. K.; Kang, S. M.; Cho, Y.; Han, Y. K.; Rhee, J. K.; Huh, Y. S. Cobalt ferrite microspheres as a biocompatible anode for higher power generation in microbial fuel cells. J. Power Sources 2021, 483, 229170.

Crossref Google Scholar
22

Zou, L.; Qiao, Y.; Wu, Z. Y.; Wu, X. S.; Xie, J. L.; Yu, S. H.; Guo, J. H.; Li, C. M. Tailoring unique mesopores of hierarchically porous structures for fast direct electrochemistry in microbial fuel cells. Adv. Energy Mater. 2016, 6, 1501535.

Crossref Google Scholar
23

Chen, Q.; Pu, W. H.; Hou, H. J.; Hu, J. P.; Liu, B. C.; Li, J. F.; Cheng, K.; Huang, L.; Yuan, X. Q.; Yang, C. Z. et al. Activated microporous-mesoporous carbon derived from chestnut shell as a sustainable anode material for high performance microbial fuel cells. Bioresour. Technol. 2018, 249, 567–573.

Crossref Google Scholar
24

Munjal, M.; Tiwari, B.; Lalwani, S.; Sharma, M.; Singh, G.; Sharma, R. K. An insight of bioelectricity production in mediator less microbial fuel cell using mesoporous Cobalt Ferrite anode. Int. J. Hydrogen. Energy 2020, 45, 12525–12534.

Crossref Google Scholar
25

Wang, Y. Q.; Li, B.; Xiang, X. D.; Guo, C. L.; Li, W. S. Carbon nanotubes conjugated mesoporous tungsten trioxide as anode electrocatalyst for microbial fuel cells. ECS J. Solid State Sci. Technol. 2020, 9, 115010.

Crossref Google Scholar
26

Yan, Y. X.; Chen, G. R.; She, P. H.; Zhong, G. Y.; Yan, W. F.; Guan, B. Y.; Yamauchi, Y. Mesoporous nanoarchitectures for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2004654.

Crossref Google Scholar
27

Song, Y. E.; Lee, S.; Kim, M.; Na, J. G.; Lee, J.; Lee, J.; Kim, J. R. Metal-free cathodic catalyst with nitrogen- and phosphorus-doped ordered mesoporous carbon (NPOMC) for microbial fuel cells. J. Power Sources 2020, 451, 227816.

Crossref Google Scholar
28

Wu, X. S.; Qiao, Y.; Shi, Z. Z.; Tang, W.; Li, C. M. Hierarchically porous n-doped carbon nanotubes/reduced graphene oxide composite for promoting flavin-based interfacial electron transfer in microbial fuel cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2018, 10, 11671–11677.

Crossref Google Scholar
29

Wu, X. S.; Shi, Z. Z.; Zou, L.; Li, C. M.; Qiao, Y. Pectin assisted one-pot synthesis of three dimensional porous NiO/graphene composite for enhanced bioelectrocatalysis in microbial fuel cells. J. Power Sources 2018, 378, 119–124.

Crossref Google Scholar
30

Zou, L.; Qiao, Y.; Zhong, C. Y.; Li, C. M. Enabling fast electron transfer through both bacterial outer-membrane redox centers and endogenous electron mediators by polyaniline hybridized large-mesoporous carbon anode for high-performance microbial fuel cells. Electrochim. Acta 2017, 229, 31–38.

Crossref Google Scholar
31

Chong, P.; Erable, B.; Bergel, A. Effect of pore size on the current produced by 3-dimensional porous microbial anodes: A critical review. Bioresour. Technol. 2019, 289, 121641.

Crossref Google Scholar
32

Bian, B.; Shi, D.; Cai, X. B.; Hu, M. J.; Guo, Q. Q.; Zhang, C. H.; Wang, Q.; Sun, A. X.; Yang, J. 3D printed porous carbon anode for enhanced power generation in microbial fuel cell. Nano Energy 2018, 44, 174–180.

Crossref Google Scholar
33

Yu, F.; Wang, C. X.; Ma, J. Capacitance-enhanced 3D graphene anode for microbial fuel cell with long-time electricity generation stability. Electrochim. Acta 2018, 259, 1059–1067.

Crossref Google Scholar
34

Xie, X.; Hu, L. B.; Pasta, M.; Wells, G. F.; Kong, D. S.; Criddle, C. S.; Cui, Y. Three-dimensional carbon nanotube-textile anode for high-performance microbial fuel cells. Nano Lett. 2011, 11, 291–296.

Crossref Google Scholar
35

He, Y. H.; Guo, H.; Hwang, S.; Yang, X. X.; He, Z. Z.; Braaten, J.; Karakalos, S.; Shan, W. T.; Wang, M. Y.; Zhou, H. et al. Single cobalt sites dispersed in hierarchically porous nanofiber networks for durable and high-power PGM-free cathodes in fuel cells. Adv. Mater. 2020, 32, 2003577.

Crossref Google Scholar
36

Zang, J.; Wang, F. T.; Cheng, Q. Q.; Wang, G. L.; Ma, L. S.; Chen, C.; Yang, L. J.; Zou, Z. Q.; Xie, D. Q.; Yang, H. Cobalt/zinc dual-sites coordinated with nitrogen in nanofibers enabling efficient and durable oxygen reduction reaction in acidic fuel cells. J. Mater. Chem. A 2020, 8, 3686–3691.

Crossref Google Scholar
37

Cheng, Q. Q.; Han, S. B.; Mao, K.; Chen, C.; Yang, L. J.; Zou, Z. Q.; Gu, M.; Hu, Z.; Yang, H. Co nanoparticle embedded in atomically-dispersed Co-N-C nanofibers for oxygen reduction with high activity and remarkable durability. Nano Energy 2018, 52, 485–493.

Crossref Google Scholar
38

Mouhib, M.; Antonucci, A.; Reggente, M.; Amirjani, A.; Gillen, A. J.; Boghossian, A. A. Enhancing bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells and biophotovoltaics using nanomaterials. Nano Res. 2019, 12, 2184–2199.

Crossref Google Scholar
39

Mooraj, S.; Qi, Z.; Zhu, C.; Ren, J.; Peng, S. Y.; Liu, L.; Zhang, S. B.; Feng, S.; Kong, F. Y.; Liu, Y. F. et al. 3D printing of metal-based materials for renewable energy applications. Nano Res. 2021, 14, 2105–2132.

Crossref Google Scholar
40

Freyman, M. C.; Kou, T. Y.; Wang, S. W.; Li, Y. 3D printing of living bacteria electrode. Nano Res. 2020, 13, 1318–1323.

Crossref Google Scholar
41

Dong, K.; Liang, J.; Wang, Y. Y.; Xu, Z. Q.; Liu, Q.; Luo, Y. L.; Li, T. S.; Li, L.; Shi, X. F.; Asiri, A. M. et al. Honeycomb carbon nanofibers: A superhydrophilic O2-entrapping electrocatalyst enables ultrahigh mass activity for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2021, 60, 10583–10587.

Crossref Google Scholar
42

Meng, A. Y.; Wu, S.; Cheng, B.; Yu, J. G.; Xu, J. S. Hierarchical TiO2/Ni(OH)2 composite fibers with enhanced photocatalytic CO2 reduction performance. J. Mater. Chem. A 2018, 6, 4729–4736.

Crossref Google Scholar
43

Yan, J. H.; Dong, K. Q.; Zhang, Y. Y.; Wang, X.; Aboalhassan, A. A.; Yu, J. Y.; Ding, B. Multifunctional flexible membranes from sponge-like porous carbon nanofibers with high conductivity. Nat. Commun. 2019, 10, 5584.

Crossref Google Scholar
44

Chen, J. R.; Yan, X. H.; Fu, C. H.; Feng, Y.; Lin, C.; Li, X. L.; Shen, S. Y.; Ke, C. C.; Zhang, J. L. Insight into the rapid degradation behavior of nonprecious metal Fe-N-C electrocatalyst-based proton exchange membrane fuel cells. ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 2019, 11, 37779–37786.

Crossref Google Scholar
45

Li, J. Z.; Zhang, H. G.; Samarakoon, W.; Shan, W. T.; Cullen, D. A.; Karakalos, S.; Chen, M. J.; Gu, D. M.; More, K. L.; Wang, G. F. et al. Thermally driven structure and performance evolution of atomically dispersed FeN4 sites for oxygen reduction. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 2019, 58, 18971–18980.

Crossref Google Scholar
46

Yang, H. P.; Lin, Q.; Wu, Y.; Li, G. D.; Hu, Q.; Chai, X. Y.; Ren, X. Z.; Zhang, Q. L.; Liu, J. H.; He, C. X. Highly efficient utilization of single atoms via constructing 3D and free-standing electrodes for CO2 reduction with ultrahigh current density. Nano Energy 2020, 70, 104454.

Crossref Google Scholar
47

Kabir, S.; Medina, S.; Wang, G. X.; Bender, G.; Pylypenko, S.; Neyerlin, K. C. Improving the bulk gas transport of Fe-N-C platinum group metal-free nanofiber electrodes via electrospinning for fuel cell applications. Nano Energy 2020, 73, 104791.

Crossref Google Scholar
48

Wu, X. S.; Qiao, Y.; Guo, C. X.; Shi, Z. Z.; Li, C. M. Nitrogen doping to atomically match reaction sites in microbial fuel cells. Commun. Chem. 2020, 3, 68.

Crossref Google Scholar
49

Mukherjee, P.; Saravanan, P. Graphite nanopowder functionalized 3-D acrylamide polymeric anode for enhanced performance of microbial fuel cell. Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 2020, 45, 23411–23421.

Crossref Google Scholar
Nano Research
Volume 15 Issue 6,
June 2022
Pages 5089-5097
DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4120-1
Cite this article:
Qian S, Wu X, Shi Z, et al. Tuning electrospinning hierarchically porous nanowires anode for enhanced bioelectrocatalysis in microbial fuel cells. Nano Research, 2022, 15(6): 5089-5097. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12274-022-4120-1
Topics:
Energy
Metrics & Citations  
Article History
Copyright
Return