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

Abstract A highly active electrocatalyst is synthesized by employing melamine assisted metal-organic framework as the precursor. By pyrolyzing the hybrid at 350–800 °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 °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 Ω (activated carbon) to 8.39 Ω. 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 C 3 N 4 and the incorporation of nitrogen into the network formed active sites. Thus, the ideal results make the pyrolyzed hybrid at 600 °C a promising catalyst in microbial fuel cell.