High Performance Pd-CeO_(2-NR) supported on graphene and N-doped graphene for the ORR and its Application in a Microbial Fuel Cell

摘要

In this work, novel electrocatalysts based on Pd and cerium oxide nanorods (CeO_(2-NR)) were synthesized by the NaBH_4 method. Moreover, home-obtained graphene (G) and N-doped graphene (G_(D1)) were used as supports. The cathodes were identified as Pd-CeO_(2-NR)/G, Pd-CeO_(2-NR)/G_(D1). The electrocatalysts showed higher catalytic activity for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) than Pd/C and comparable to Pd-CeO_(2-NR)/C (supported on Vulcan) in 0.5 mol L~(-1). In the dual-chamber MFC, the anode substrate was actual pharmaceutical residual water (PRW) from a local company, while KOH (pH = 9.6) was the electrolyte in the cathode compartment. Pd-CeO_(2-NR)/G_(D1) showed a higher performance as cathode in the cell compared to Pd/C and commercial Pt/C, delivering an open circuit voltage of 0.26 V and a maximum power density of 12.47 mW m~(-2). Thus, this novel electrocatalyst based on CeO_(2-NR) and G_(D1) is a promising alternative to increase the performance of MFCs.