C3N4 coordinated metal-organic-framework-derived network as air-cathode for high performance of microbial fuel cell

A highly active electrocatalyst is synthesized by employing melamine assisted metal-organic framework as the precursor. By pyrolyzing the hybrid at 350-800 degrees C, the precursor can be easily transferred into abundant iron and nitrogen co-doped carbon skeleton. The microbial fuel cell doped with the above treated sample at 600 degrees C achieves the maximum power density 2229 +/- 10 mW m(-2), 257% and 36.6% higher than that of activated carbon and the control sample. The total resistance decreases by 53.8% from 18.16 Omega (activated carbon) to 8.39 Omega. The reaction process is testified to be four-electron transfer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy prove the coexistence of divalent copper and C3N4 and the incorporation of nitrogen into the network formed active sites. Thus, the ideal results make the pyrolyzed hybrid at 600 degrees C a promising catalyst in microbial fuel cell.