The improvement of catalytic efficiency by optimizing Pt on carbon cloth as a cathode of a microbial fuel cell

• The highest quantity of Pt (0) has been obtained from the Pt deposited by electrodeposition.
• The impedance of Pt deposited by electrodeposition is lower than that deposited by e-gun and sputtering.
• Real active surface area of Pt deposited by electrodeposition is higher than that of Pt deposited by e-gun and sputtering.
• Pt deposited on carbon cloth by electrodeposition exhibits the highest power density even with the lowest Pt loading.
• Pt deposited by electrodeposition as a cathode shows the highest potential for MFC applications.

This paper presents the performance of Pt deposited by different deposition methods, including electrodeposition, e-gun, and sputtering on a carbon cloth as a cathode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system. The results indicate that Pt deposited by electrodeposition exhibits the highest active efficiency on hydrogen electroabsorption. According to XPS fitting results, the amount of Pt (0), zero-valent Pt, existing in Pt deposited on carbon cloth by electrodeposition was larger than that in Pt deposited by e-gun and sputtering. The cyclic voltammogram analyses also show more real active surface area of Pt deposited by electrodeposition, mostly contributed by its smaller particle size/shape and higher catalytic effect. Besides, the total impedance of Pt deposited by electrodeposition was lower than that of Pt deposited by e-gun and sputtering from EIS measurement at 0.1 Hz. Applied to MFC system, the highest power density was manifested and the least Pt loading were observed for the Pt deposited on carbon cloth by electrodeposition. It is therefore can be concluded that the electrodeposited-Pt exhibit superior performance as a cathode for future MFC applications.

The improvement of catalytic efficiency was obtained by electrodeposited-Pt on carbon cloth as a cathode in MFC system.Figure optionsDownload as PowerPoint slide