Porous Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45 microellipsoids as high-performance anode electrocatalyst for microbial fuel cells

A novel bi-component composite of porous self-assembled micro-/nanostructured Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45 microellipsoids as high-performance anode electrocatalyst for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is successfully synthesized via a simple coprecipitation reaction in microemulsion and calcination method in air atmosphere. The morphology and structural characterization indicate that the as-fabricated Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45 product is consist of Mn2O3 and NiMn2O4 (n(Mn2O3): n(NiMn2O4) = 0.35: 0.1) and has a porous microellipsoidal morphology. The microellipsoids are compose of numerous layered micro-/nanostructured blocks and the special porous microellipsoids structure of Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45 offers a large specific surface area for bacteria adhesion. The porous Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45 microellipsoids as anode electrocatalyst for MFCs exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity to promote the extracellular electron transfer (EET) between the anode and bacteria, hence improves the performance of MFC. The MFC equipped with Ni0.1Mn0.9O1.45/CF anode achieves a maximum power density of 1.39 ± 0.02 W m−2, is significantly higher than that of commercial carbon felt anode. This work proposes a new method for the synthesis of high-performance and environmentally friendly anode electrocatalyst for MFCs.