Photocatalytic fuel cell for simultaneous antibiotic wastewater treatment and electricity production by anatase TiO2 nanoparticles anchored on Ni foam

Photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) holds great potential for the sustainable production of electricity and degra-dation of organic pollutants for solving global energy and environmental problems. However, the efficient photodegradation of organic dyes and antibiotic drugs, such as ciprofloxacin (CIP) and methylene blue (MB), remains challenging. Aiming at improving the separation efficiency of hole and electron for elec-tricity generation in the PFC system, TiO2-NPs@NF-x photoanode was fabricated by a cost-effective and laborsaving hydrothermal approach. The as-fabricated photoanode demonstrated abundant active sites, enhanced light harvesting capacity and photogenerated charge carrier separation. At a CIP-HCl concen-tration of 10 mg/L and pH value of about 7, 85% of CIP-HCl can be efficiently removed after 3 h irra-diation by 300 W Xe lamp. TiO2-NPs@NF-20 photoelectrode based PFC system exhibited an impressed ability to simultaneously degrade ciprofloxacin and generate electricity under light irradiation with an open circuit voltage of 1.021 V, short circuit current density and maximum power density of 2.4 mA/cm2, 0.357 mW/cm2, respectively. This work provided a cost-effective method for the treatment of organic waste and generation of electrical power.(c) 2022 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Automated summary

Photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) shows great potential for sustainable electricity production and organic pollutant degradation. However, efficiently degrading organic dyes and antibiotic drugs remains a challenge. In this study, a TiO2-NPs@NF-x photoanode was fabricated to improve the separation efficiency of electrons and holes in the PFC system. The photoanode displayed abundant active sites, enhanced light harvesting capacity, and efficient charge carrier separation. Under specific conditions, the PFC system based on TiO2-NPs@NF-20 photoelectrode demonstrated simultaneous degradation of ciprofloxacin and generation of electricity. Open circuit voltage, short circuit current density, and maximum power density were measured as 1.021 V, 2.4 mA/cm2, and 0.357 mW/cm2, respectively. This cost-effective method contributes to organic waste treatment and power generation.