A facile synthesis of molybdenum carbide nanoparticles-modified carbonized cotton textile as an anode material for high-performance microbial fuel cells

A novel macroscale porous structure electrode, molybdenum carbide nanoparticles-modified carbonized cotton textile (Mo2C/CCT), was synthesized by a facile two-step method and used as an anode material for high-performance microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The characterization results show that the carbonized cotton textile modified with Mo2C nanoparticles offers a great specific surface area (832.17 m2 g−1) for bacterial adhesion. The MFC using Mo2C/CCT anode delivers the maximum power density of 1.12 W m−2, which is 51% and 116% higher than that of CCT and unmodified carbon felt anodes under the same conditions. The high power density is mainly due to the Mo2C nanoparticles with good biocompatibility and high conductivity and superior electrochemical activity, as well as the macroscale porous structure of carbonized cotton textile, which facilitate the formation of electroactive biofilm and improve the electron transfer. This paper introduces a feasible way to synthesize cost-effective and high-performance anode materials for MFCs.