title: Preparation of vertically oriented TiO2 nanosheets modified carbon paper electrode and its enhancement to the performance of MFCs.
abstract: A unique vertically oriented TiO2 nanosheets (TiO2-NSs) layer was synthesized in situ on the surface of a carbon paper (CP) electrode via hydrothermal synthesis upon addition of a suitable amount of activated carbon powders in a reactor. Field emission scanning electron microscopy images showed that the nanosheets were about 2 μm in length, 200-600 nm in width and 15 nm in thickness. X-ray diffraction and Raman patterns verified TiO2-NSs crystallized in the anatase phase. The electrochemical activities of CP and TiO2-NSs/CP electrode have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The maximum power output density of a mixed consortia inoculated microbial fuel cell was increased by 63% upon using TiO2-NSs/CP as a bioanode compared with that using bare CP as a bioanode. The performance improvement could be ascribed to unique 3D open porous interface made of vertically oriented TiO2-NSs, which provides good biocompatibility, favorable mass transport process, large surface areas for adhension of bacteria and direct pathways for electron movement to the electrode.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Bioelectronics, Southeast University , Nanjing 210096, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yin
authors.forename: Zhenya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Su
authors.forename: Chunwei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: Degang
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fu
mesh_terms: D001672:Biocompatible Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D058266:Dielectric Spectroscopy; D004058:Diffusion; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D004581:Electronics; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000737:chemistry*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D036103:Nanotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012666:Semiconductors; D013499:Surface Properties; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry*; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; C009495:titanium dioxide; D002244:Carbon; D014025:Titanium
keywords: MFCs; TiO2 nanosheets; bioelectronics; carbon electrode; extracellular electron transfer