Ruthenium oxide/tungsten oxide composite nanofibers as anode catalysts for the green energy generation of Chlorella vulgaris mediated biophotovoltaic cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2019
Abstract
The development of electrochemically active and stable anode catalysts for the photoelectrochemical splitting of water molecules via biophotovoltaic cells (BPVs) utilizing microalgae receives a prime importance in green energy sector. Herein, we report the ruthenium oxide (RuO2)/tungsten oxide (WO3) composite nanofibers based photoanode for the application of high performance and durable BPV. The sequential arrangement of 6 nm sized RuO2/WO3 spherical particles constitutes the nanofibrous morphology and a number of surface active sites and structural integrity of nanofibers demonstrate the excellent and stable photo-oxidation currents. Under the light regime, RuO2/WO3/carbon cloth photoanode exhibits the substantial BPV power and current densities with an excellent durability. Thus this systematic study evokes the fundamental understanding on the electron generation and transference mechanisms, which offers new dimensions in the development of high performance and durable BPVs. © 2019 American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Keywords
biophotovoltaic cell, green energy, microalgae, nanofiber, photocatalysis
Divisions
PHYSICS,InstituteofBiologicalSciences,ocean
Funders
Science and Engineering Research Board (SERB), New Delhi, India, Major Project Grant No.: EMR/ 2015/000912,Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work through the Research Group Project under grant number R. G. P.1/15/40,HICoE MOE:IOES-2014F Grant and Newton Prize 2017 (IF008-2018)
Publication Title
Environmental Progress & Sustainable Energy
Volume
38
Issue
6
Publisher
Wiley