The electrochemical behavior of three air cathodes for microbial electrochemical system (MES) under meter scale water pressure

To produce cathodes with high water pressure tolerance for the practical application of microbial electrochemical system (MES), a 3-m test configuration is set up. Three kinds of cathodes, including Pt-CC (carbon cloth with platinum carbon), Pt-CM (carbon mesh with platinum carbon), and AC-MM (metal mesh with activated carbon), are investigated. The electrochemical performances of these cathodes are tested with linear sweep voltammetry under varied water pressures. Current densities of Pt-CC and Pt-CM increase with the rising water pressures till the maximum endurable water head, which are 100 cm for Pt-CC and 130 cm for Pt-CM. Yet electrochemical performances of AC-MM remained stable under the tested water pressure range from 0 to 30 KPa. The deformation of cathodes under varied water pressures causes the changes of cathode performances. The curvature degrees of cathodes relate to their mechanical properties. Elastic modulus of AC-MM is 4 +/- 0.4 x 10(3) MPa, which is over 10 times larger than that of Pt-CM and over 60 times larger than that of Pt-CC. The best mechanical properties prevent AC-MM from the substantial deformation and the consequent lacerations and water flooding of diffusion layers. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.