A solar-powered microbial electrolysis cell with a platinum catalyst-free cathode to produce hydrogen.
This paper reports successful hydrogen evolution using a dye-sensitized solar cell (DSSC)-powered microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) without a Pt catalyst on the cathode, indicating a solution for the inherent drawbacks of conventional MECs, such as the need for an external bias and catalyst. DSSCs fabricated by assembling a ruthenium dye-loaded TiO(2) film and platinized FTO glass with an I(-)/I(3)(-) redox couple were demonstrated as an alternative bias (V(oc) = 0.65 V). Pt-loaded (0.3 mg Pt/cm(2)) electrodes with a Pt/C nanopowder showed relatively faster hydrogen production than the Pt-free electrodes, particularly at lower voltages. However, once the applied photovoltage exceeded a certain level (0.7 V), platinum did not have any additional effect on hydrogen evolution in the solar-powered MECs: hydrogen conversion efficiency was almost comparable for either the plain (71.3-77.0%) or Pt-loaded carbon felt (79.3-82.0%) at >0.7 V. In particular, the carbon nanopowder-coated electrode without Pt showed significantly enhanced performance compared to the plain electrode, which indicates efficient electrohydrogenesis, even without Pt by enhancing the surface area. As the applied photovoltage was increased, anodic methanogenesis decreased gradually, resulting in increasing hydrogen yield.
Chae
Kyu-Jung
KJ
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, 1 Oryong-dong, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
Choi
Mi-Jin
MJ
Kim
Kyoung-Yeol
KY
Ajayi
Folusho F
FF
Chang
In-Seop
IS
Kim
In S
IS
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002384:Catalysis; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004583:Electrons; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000737:chemistry*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010984:Platinum / Q000737:chemistry*; D012993:Solar Energy
D010984:Platinum; D006859:Hydrogen