Enhancing performance of microbial fuel cell by using graphene supported V2O5-nanorod catalytic cathode

Cathodes were fabricated around stainless steel wire mesh current collector, using vanadium pentoxide nanorods (V2O5-NRs) as catalyst supported with reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and Vulcan XC, for application in microbial fuel cell. Cyclic voltammetry analysis showed multiple redox current peaks of V2O5-NRs under applied potential range, revealing superior electrocatalytic activity. Power density enhanced from 384 +/- 45 mW/m(2) for MFC using V2O5/Vulcan XC cathode to 533 +/- 37 mW/m(2) for MFC using V2O5/rGO cathode; whereas MFC using catalyst free cathode fabricated with rGO and Vulcan XC produced significantly less power density of 95 +/- 9.9 and 75 +/- 7 mW/m(2), respectively. In addition, MFC using V2O5/rGO cathode demonstrated slightly higher power density than that obtained from MFC using 10% Pt-carbon cathode (512 +/- 51 mW/m(2)). Coulombic efficiency and chemical oxygen demand removal of 37.5 +/- 1.36% and 85.02 +/- 1.46% in MFC using V2O5/rGO cathode was found to be highest among all MFCs. Noteworthy improvement in catalytic activity of low-cost V2O5-NRs catalyst enfolded with graphene is demonstrated, resulting in higher power output and organic matter removal in MFC. Higher power generated by MFC using low cost V2O5/rGO cathode, compared with costly platinum, makes it suitable option for scale-up of MFCs. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.