Carbon supported cobalt oxide nanoparticles-iron phthalocyanine as alternative cathode catalyst for oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cells

► Cobalt oxide-iron phthalocyanine was used to replace platinum as the cathode catalyst in the microbial fuel cell. The maximum power density of 654 ± 32 mW m−2 is achieved from the C-CoOx-FePc cathode, which is 37% higher than the power density of C-FePc. The voltage output of the MFC only decreases to 85% of its initial voltage after 50 cycles, suggesting the acceptable long-term stability.