Ni sub(3)Mo sub(3)C as Anode Catalyst for High-Performance Microbial Fuel Cells

Ni sub(3)Mo sub(3)C was prepared by a modified organic colloid method and explored as anode catalyst for high-performance microbial fuel cell (MFC) based on Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae). The prepared sample was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM), and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET). The activity of the sample as anode catalyst for MFC based on K. pneumoniae was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and polarization curve measurement. The results show that the adding of nickel in Mo sub(2)C increases the BET surface area of Mo sub(2)C and improves the electrocatalytic activity of Mo sub(2)C towards the oxidation of microbial fermentation products. The power density of MFC with 3 mg cm super(-2) Ni sub(3)Mo sub(3)C anode is far higher than that of the MFC with carbon felt as anode without any catalyst, which is 19 % higher than that of Mo sub(2)C anode and produced 62 % as much as that of Pt anode, indicating that Ni sub(3)Mo sub(3)C is comparative to noble metal platinum as anode electrocatalyst for MFCs by increasing the loading.