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Waste paper derived three-dimensional carbon aerogel integrated with ceria/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide as freestanding anode for high performance and durable microbial fuel cells

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Abstract

Despite the green energy generation with low cost compared to conventional fuel cells, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) still suffer with anode related constraints including laborious pretreatment and modification process of conventional electrodes, limited bacterial loading capacity, and inferior extracellular electron transfer efficiency. Accordingly, this investigation explores the waste tissue paper derived three dimensional (3D) carbon aerogel (CA) integrated with cerium dioxide (CeO2) nanotubes decorated nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide nanosheets (NRGO) as a competent anode to address these technical complements. The direct growth of NRGO and CeO2 over CA in the form of freestanding and binder-free NRGO/CeO2(1:2)/CA alleviates the significant constrains of conventional anode fabrication. The 3D hierarchical architectures of CA with open porous structure provide easy access of bacteria, thus increases the bacterial colonies per unit volume. Furthermore, the hydrogen bonding between the interfacial oxygen atoms of CeO2 and lysine residues of the cytochrome c in bacteria yields excellent extracellular electron transfer efficiency. The electrostatic interaction between the NRGO and bacteria cells improves the bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation, leading to the compact biofilm formation for the improved direct electron transference. With the profits of above, the MFC with NRGO/CeO2(1:2)/CA demonstrates a maximum power output and good lifespan performances. The present exploration facts thus access advanced avenues to converting waste matters of tissue paper, human urine, and wastewater into profitable constituents for the development of efficient and durable power producing systems.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) New Delhi, India, Major Project Grant No.: 01(2997)/19/EMR-II. The authors (MP and AGA) are thankful to the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the Research Group Project under grant number R. G. P.2/48/40.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physical Chemistry, School of Chemistry, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, 625021, India

    Nangan Senthilkumar & G. Gnana kumar

  2. Centre of Research Excellence in Nanotechnology (CENT), King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), Dhahran, 31261, Saudi Arabia

    Md. Abdul Aziz

  3. Department of Chemistry, King Khalid University, Abha, 61413, Saudi Arabia

    Mehboobali Pannipara & Abdullah G. Al-Sehemi

  4. PG and Research Department of Chemistry, Government Arts college, C. Mutlur, Chidambram, Tamil Nadu, 608102, India

    A. Therasa Alphonsa

  5. Department of Zoology, Directorate of Distance Education, Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, 625021, India

    A. Balasubramani

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  1. Nangan Senthilkumar
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Correspondence to G. Gnana kumar.

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Senthilkumar, N., Aziz, M.A., Pannipara, M. et al. Waste paper derived three-dimensional carbon aerogel integrated with ceria/nitrogen-doped reduced graphene oxide as freestanding anode for high performance and durable microbial fuel cells. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 43, 97–109 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-019-02208-4

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