Piezo-photocatalytic fuel cell with atomic Fe@MoS2 on CFC helical electrode has enhanced peroxymonosulfate activation, pollutant degradation and power generation

In this study, the catalytic performance of helical-form carbon fiber cloth anode loaded with atomic Fe@MoS2 (Fe@MoS2/CFC (h)) in piezocatalytic fuel cell (Pz-FC), improved 1.27 times with aeration as the piezo-driving force. The above Pz-FC with 0.5 mM peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and Xe-lamp irradiation forming a PMS-piezophotocatalytic fuel cell (PMS-Pz-PFC) system, removed 92.8% berberine in 60 min and generated power density that were respectively 2.04-fold and 8-fold higher than the PMS-Pz-PFC using MoS2/CFC (h) as the anode. Experiments showed that atomic Fe promoted piezo-photocatalysis of the helical-design anode significantly to accelerate the activation of PMS. Moreover, with 0.5 mM PMS, remarkable enhancement of electricity generation (more than 500 times difference) and pollutant degradation (by 40-50%) were achieved. The drastic synergy of piezoelectric catalysis in enhanced advanced oxidation has great practical application potential.

Automated summary

In this study, the catalytic performance of a carbon fiber cloth anode loaded with atomic Fe@MoS2 in a piezocatalytic fuel cell was improved using aeration as the piezo-driving force. Furthermore, the researchers developed a PMS-piezophotocatalytic fuel cell system that showed significant improvements in power density and pollutant degradation compared to a system using MoS2/CFC(h) as the anode.