Issue 6, 2020

GO/PEDOT modified biocathodes promoting CO2 reduction to CH4 in microbial electrosynthesis

Abstract

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is a promising energy conversion technology as it can store intermittent renewable electricity while converting CO2 to value-added products using microorganisms as catalysts. However, the performance of CH4-producing MES is severely limited by the poor biofilm formation and the low loading surface area of biocathodes. Here, a novel cathode with a GO/PEDOT film was fabricated by electropolymerizing conductive poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) on graphene oxide (GO) film modified carbon cloth. The GO/PEDOT modified electrode was applied to the MES of CO2 reduction to CH4, and a maximum CH4 production rate of 315.3 ± 13.2 mmol per m2 per day (7.06 ± 0.3 l per m2 per day) (the highest rate reported up to now at −0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl) was achieved with a Faraday efficiency > 92% at an operating potential of −0.9 V vs. Ag/AgCl, which increased 3.9-fold in contrast to the bare carbon cloth cathode. Electrochemical analysis, scanning electron microscopy, and phylogenetic analyses of microbial communities indicated that the GO/PEDOT film not only improved biofilm formation, but also increased the area for microbial colonization. This study demonstrates that GO/PEDOT film modified carbon cloth is a promising material for biocathodes of CH4-producing MES and can be beneficial to the development of MES.

Graphical abstract: GO/PEDOT modified biocathodes promoting CO2 reduction to CH4 in microbial electrosynthesis

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
27 Feb 2020
Accepted
23 Mar 2020
First published
25 Mar 2020

Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2020,4, 2987-2997

GO/PEDOT modified biocathodes promoting CO2 reduction to CH4 in microbial electrosynthesis

Q. Li, Q. Fu, H. Kobayashi, Y. He, Z. Li, J. Li, Q. Liao and X. Zhu, Sustainable Energy Fuels, 2020, 4, 2987 DOI: 10.1039/D0SE00321B

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