Stainless steel mesh supported nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers for binder-free cathode in microbial fuel cells

In this communication, we report a binder-free oxygen reduction cathode for microbial fuel cells. The binder-free cathode is prepared by growth of nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) on stainless steel mesh (SSM) via simple pyrolysis of pyridine. The interaction force between NCNFs and SSM surface is very strong which is able to tolerate water flush. The NCNFs/SSM cathode shows high and stable electrocatalytic activity for oxygen reduction reaction, which is comparable to that of Pt/SSM and ferricyanide cathode. This study proposes a promising low-cost binder-free cathode for microbial fuel cells.

► A concept of binder-free cathode was proposed.
► Binder-free cathode was prepared by growth of nitrogen doped carbon nanofibers (NCNFs) on stainless steel mesh (SSM).
► The NCNFs were tightly fixed on the surface of SSM.
► The NCNFs/SSM showed high electrocatalytic activity towards oxygen reduction reaction.