RESUMO
Cobalt-modified molybdenum dioxide nanoparticles highly dispersed on nitrogen-doped carbon nanorods (Co-MoO2/NCND), are synthesized from anilinium trimolybdate dihydrate nanorods, for the performance improvement of microbial fuel cell based on a mixed bacterial culture. Electrochemical measurements demonstrate that the as-synthesized Co-MoO2/NCND exhibits excellent electrocatalytic activity for the charge transfer on anode, providing the cell with a maximum power density of 2.06⯱â¯0.05â¯Wâ¯m-2, which is strikingly higher than the bare carbon felt anode (0.49⯱â¯0.04â¯Wâ¯m-2). The excellent performance of Co-MoO2/NCND is ascribed to the increased electronic conductivity of carbon nanorods by N-doping, the high ability of MoO2 to enrich electroactive bacteria, as demonstrated by high-throughput sequencing, and the enhanced activity of MoO2 by Co-modifying toward redox reactions in electroactive bacteria. This report provides a new concept of anode electrocatalyst fabrications for the application of microbial fuel cells in electricity generation and wastewater treatment.