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CoMn2O4-supported functionalized carbon nanotube: efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cells

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Abstract

Recently, the synthesis of nonprecious metal catalysts with low cost and high oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency is paid much attention in field of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Transition metal oxides (AMn2O4, A = Co、Ni, and Zn) supported on carbon materials such as graphene and carbon nanotube exhibit stronger electroconductivity and more active sites comparing to bare AMn2O4. Herein, we demonstrate an easy operating Hummer’s method to functionalize carbon nanotubes (CNTs) with poly (diallyldimethylammonium chloride) in order to achieve effective loading of CoMn2O4 nanoparticles, named CoMn2O4/PDDA-CNTs (CMODT). After solvothermal treatment, nanoscale CoMn2O4 particles (~ 80 nm) were successfully attached on the noncovalent functionalized carbon nanotube. Results show that such composites possess an outstanding electrocatalytic activity towards ORR comparable to the commercial Pt/C catalyst in neutral media. Electrochemical detections as cyclic voltammogram (CV) and rotating ring-disk electrode tests (RRDE) showed that the potential of oxygen reduction peak of 30% CMODT was at − 0.3 V (vs Ag/AgCl), onset potential was at + 0.4 V. Among them, 30% CMODT composite appeared the best candidate of oxygen reduction via 3.9 electron transfer pathway. When 30% CMODT composite was utilized as cathode catalyst in air cathode MFC, the reactor obtained 1020 mW m−2 of the highest maximum power density and 0.781 V of open circuit voltage. The excellent activity and low cost (0.2 $ g−1) of the hybrid materials demonstrate the potential of transition metal oxide/carbon as effective cathode ORR catalyst for microbial fuel cells.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank National Natural Science Foundation of China (30800796 and 31272482), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (NCET-11-0166), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (2017PY012), Guangdong Provincial Science and Technology Project (2017A020216013), and Guangzhou Science and Technology Project (201604020055) for financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Nengwu Zhu, Yu Lu, Bowen Liu, Taiping Zhang, Jianjian Huang, Chaohong Shi, Pingxiao Wu, Zhi Dang & Ruixin Wang

  2. The Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Ecosystem Restoration in Industry Clusters of Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Nengwu Zhu, Taiping Zhang, Pingxiao Wu & Zhi Dang

  3. Guangdong Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Nengwu Zhu, Taiping Zhang, Pingxiao Wu & Zhi Dang

  4. Guangdong Engineering and Technology Research Center for Environmental Nanomaterials, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Nengwu Zhu, Taiping Zhang, Pingxiao Wu & Zhi Dang

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  1. Nengwu Zhu
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  2. Yu Lu
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  3. Bowen Liu
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  5. Jianjian Huang
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  8. Zhi Dang
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  9. Ruixin Wang
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Correspondence to Nengwu Zhu or Taiping Zhang.

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Zhu, N., Lu, Y., Liu, B. et al. CoMn2O4-supported functionalized carbon nanotube: efficient catalyst for oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cells. J Nanopart Res 19, 331 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-017-4023-3

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