Hydrogen production in a microbial electrolysis cell with nickel-based gas diffusion cathodes

Gas diffusion cathodes with Ni alloy and Ni catalysts manufactured by chemical deposition were tested for H2 production in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). In a continuous flow MEC, multi-component cathodes containing Ni, Mo, Cr, and Fe, at a total catalyst load of 1 mg cm−2 on carbon support demonstrated stable H2 production at rates of 2.8–3.7 L LR−1 d−1 with only 5% methane in the gas stream. Furthermore, a Ni-only gas diffusion cathode, with a Ni load of 0.6 mg cm−2, demonstrated a H2 production rate of 4.1 L LR−1 d−1. Overall, H2 production was found to be proportional to the Ni load implying that inexpensive gas diffusion cathodes prepared by chemical deposition of Ni can be successfully used for continuous production of H2 in a MEC.