The feasibility of typical metal-organic framework derived Fe, Co, N co-doped carbon as a robust electrocatalyst for oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cell

Several iron and cobalt dual metaland nitrogen-doped carbons (FeCoNCs) are synthetized by using a typical metal-organic framework, ZIF-67, as the precursor for oxygen reduction reaction. With the rise of pyrolysis temperature (700 degrees C-1000 degrees C), the morphological evolution and structural changes of resultant FeCoNC samples and the subsequent differences in oxygen reduction performances were also explored. The maximum power density of the FeCoNC-modified air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) reaches 1769.95 mW m(-2), which is superior to that of Pt/C-modified MFC (1410.31 mW m(-2)). A N-2 adsorption-desorption experiment reveals the presence of abundant mesoporous in the structure of the as-prepared FeCoNC material pyrolized at 900 degrees C (FeCoNC-900), and the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller model discloses its high specific surface area. Rotating disk electrode test results demonstrate a four-electron transfer pathway for the FeCoNC-900 catalyst. Furthermore, the MFC device modified by the as-prepared FeCoNC materials shows excellent durability and stability as cathode oxygen reduction catalyst. (c) 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.