Activated Carbon Derived from Rice Husk as Efficient Oxygen Reduction Catalyst in Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Abstract In microbial fuel cells (MFCs), an important factor limiting practical applications is the high catalyst cost in cathode. Herein a rice husk‐based porous carbon made through hydrolysis, activation and rolling was used as novel cathode. These porous carbons were characterized by SEM, XPS and BET analysis, and electrochemical measurements including linear sweep voltammetry and Tafel test were investigated. A maximum powder density (317.7±0.4 mW m −2 ) on AC‐KOH‐1h with the largest BET surface area of 1809 m 2 g −1 was obtained. This study revealed a fresh territory about the application of porous carbon produced by renewable resources for MFC electrode.