海底生物燃料电池阴极二氧化锰改性及性能

Modified cathode by MnO_2 and its electrochemical property in microbial fuel cell on ocean floor

阴极改性是提高海底生物燃料电池输出功率的重要途径之一。金属锰氧化物可作为阴极表面电子转移介体,加速电子传递,提高阴极和电池性能;二氧化锰含量不同,电池性能不同。不同含量的比较研究结果表明当阴极MnO2含量为4%时,阴极抗极化性能最好,电池内阻最小,最大输出功率密度为20 mW/m2,是纯石墨阴极电池的2倍多。同时分析了催化剂MnO2提高电池性能的电子传递机理。本研究结果可为海底生物燃料电池的阴极设计提供重要依据。

Cathode modification of microbial fuel cell on ocean floor is one important way to increase its output power.Manganese peroxide is an electronic transfer mediator to enhance cathode property.Its different amount would cause different cell power.Comparative research in the paper indicates that when the amount of MnO2 is 4%,the cathode has the best polarization performance,lowest internal resistance,and highest output power,reaching 20 mW/m^2.It is about more than two-fold higher than plain graphite cathode.Finally,a simple mechanism was presented to explain that how manganese peroxide effectively enhanced the electron transfer between cathode and oxygen in the ocean water.The result can be used for cell cathode design in the future.