A CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene-Modified Anode Improved the Performance Characteristics of a Microbial Fuel Cell in Terms of Bioelectricity Generation and Water Treatment

Abstract

Water pollution is an alarming and critical environmental challenge that demands immediate attention. In addition to this, the world is also facing an energy crisis of ever-increasing proportions. Managing these issues through a sustainable approach is the need of the hour. In this context, microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, with its dual capability to treat wastewater with simultaneous power generation, is gaining recognition as a sustainable solution. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of a modified MFC anode, i.e., CoFe2O4@CF, Nb2C-MXene@CF, and CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene@CF, on the performance of MFC technology. A hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize CoFe2O4 and Nb2C-MXene, followed by characterization using XRD, SEM, and EDX tools. The results demonstrated that CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene@CF significantly enhanced the working performance of a MFC as compared to CoFe2O4@CF and Nb2C-MXene@CF. The MFC with this configuration produces a stable voltage (699.8 mV), coulombic efficiency (23.8%), COD removal (84%), and power density (394.272 mWm−2), with corresponding current density (888 mAm−2). These improvements were possibly due to the excellent electrocatalytic activity and strong biocompatibility of the modifier. Conclusively, the CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene composite is ascertained to be an emphatic anode material for MFCs with superior characteristics.