Dataset Information
Enhancement in hydrogen evolution using Au-TiO2 hollow spheres with microbial devices modified with conjugated oligoelectrolytes.
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ABSTRACT: Objective
Although photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting heralds the emergence of the hydrogen economy, the need for external bias and low efficiency stymies the widespread application of this technology. By coupling water splitting (in a PEC cell) to a microbial fuel cell (MFC) using Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst, this work aims to successfully demonstrate a sustainable hybrid PEC-MFC platform functioning solely by biocatalysis and solar energy, at zero bias. Through further chemical modification of the photo-anode (in the PEC cell) and biofilm (in the MFC), the performance of the hybrid system is expected to improve in terms of the photocurrent generated and hydrogen evolved.Methods
The hybrid system constitutes the interconnected PEC cell with the MFC. Both PEC cell and MFC are typical two-chambered systems housing the anode and cathode. Au-TiO2 hollow spheres and conjugated oligoelectrolytes were synthesised chemically and introduced to the PEC cell and MFC, respectively. Hydrogen evolution measurements were performed in triplicates.Results
The hybrid PEC-MFC platform generated a photocurrent density of 0.35?mA/cm2 (~70× enhancement) as compared with the stand-alone P25 standard PEC cell (0.005?mA/cm2) under one-sun illumination (100?mW/cm2) at zero bias (0?V vs. Pt). This increase in photocurrent density was accompanied by continuous H2 production. No H2 was observed in the P25 standard PEC cell whereas H2 evolution rate was ~3.4??mol/h in the hybrid system. The remarkable performance is attributed to the chemical modification of E. coli through the incorporation of novel conjugated oligoelectrolytes in the MFC as well as the lower recombination rate and higher photoabsorption capabilities in the Au-TiO2 hollow spheres electrode.Conclusions
The combined strategy of photo-anode modification in PEC cells and chemically modified MFCs shows great promise for future exploitation of such synergistic effects between MFCs and semiconductor-based PEC water splitting.
SUBMITTER: Ngaw CK
PROVIDER: S-EPMC5515218 | biostudies-literature | 2015
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Enhancement in hydrogen evolution using Au-TiO<sub>2</sub> hollow spheres with microbial devices modified with conjugated oligoelectrolytes.
NPJ biofilms and microbiomes 20151021
<h4>Objective</h4>Although photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting heralds the emergence of the hydrogen economy, the need for external bias and low efficiency stymies the widespread application of this technology. By coupling water splitting (in a PEC cell) to a microbial fuel cell (MFC) using <i>Escherichia coli</i> as the biocatalyst, this work aims to successfully demonstrate a sustainable hybrid PEC-MFC platform functioning solely by biocatalysis and solar energy, at zero bias. Through f ...[more]