Environ. Sci. Technol. 2006, 40, 364-369
Power Densities Using Different Cathode Catalysts (Pt and CoTMPP) and Polymer Binders (Nafion and PTFE) in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells SHAOAN CHENG,† HONG LIU,† AND B R U C E E . L O G A N * ,†,‡ Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and The Penn State Hydrogen Energy (H2E) Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802
Cathode catalysts and binders were examined for their effect on power densities in single chamber, air-cathode, microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Chronopotentiometry tests indicated that the cathode potential was only slightly reduced (20-40 mV) when Pt loadings were decreased from 2 to 0.1 mg cm-2, and that Nafion performed better as a Pt binder than poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE). Replacing the preciousmetal Pt catalyst (0.5 mg cm-2; Nafion binder) with a cobalt material (cobalt tetramethylphenylporphyrin, CoTMPP) produced slightly improved cathode performance above 0.6 mA cm-2, but reduced performance ( plain carbon electrode. This is the same order expected from the chronopotentiometric tests at current densities similar to that produced in the MFC tests (
