File Download
Supplementary
-
Citations:
- Appears in Collections:
postgraduate thesis: Microbial electrodes and Cu2O-based photoelectrodes for innovative electricity generation and pollutant degradation
Title | Microbial electrodes and Cu2O-based photoelectrodes for innovative electricity generation and pollutant degradation |
---|---|
Authors | |
Issue Date | 2011 |
Publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) |
Citation | Qian, W. [钱伟忠]. (2011). Microbial electrodes and Cu2O-based photoelectrodes for innovative electricity generation and pollutant degradation. (Thesis). University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.5353/th_b4717028 |
Abstract | Photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) and microbial fuel cells (MFC) are two promising environmental technologies with the purposes of energy production and pollutant degradation. In this study, p-type Cu2O thin film electrodes were synthesized by electrodeposition on the ITO glass. The influences of various electrodeposition conditions, including the deposition potential, temperature, electrolyte pH, substrates and deposition duration on the morphology and the photoelectrochemical properties of the Cu2O films were investigated. The so-called p-type micro-crystal Cu2O thin film photocathodes were synthesized at -0.4 V, 70 °C and pH 10. An innovative composite Cu2O/TiO2 photoelectrode was developed by dip-coating TiO2 on the surface of the Cu2O film. The outer TiO2 layer would help reduce the electron-hole recombination and hence improve the catalyst stability. The photocatalyst was shown to be capable of photocatalytic degradation of model pollutants. Under simulated solar irradiation, methylene blue, acridine orange, and bromocresso brilliant blue G were effectively degraded in the Cu2O-based PEC. The composite Cu2O/TiO2 photoelectrode could further enhance the photodegradation of the dyes.
For the study on MFC with the saline wastewater-inoculated MFCs, an electricity output of 581 mW/m2 could be achieved at a NaCl concentration of 200 mM. Based on the characterization of the bioande using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, the R(QR)(QR) model, instead of the conventional R(QR) model, was found to fit well with the EIS data of the carbon cloth bioanode. The results support the two-interface-based physical model for the description of the bioanode, including an interface on the flat electrode and the other for the porous biofilm matrix. The new model was employed to monitor the biofilm formation and development on the carbon clothe anode during the MFC start-up. In addition, photocatalytic MFC was developed by using the Cu2O film as the photocathode for the MFC. With the simulated solar light illumination, the PMFC open circuit voltage could be increased by 200 mV comparing to the MFC test. Moreover, the cathode material (Cu2O) is much less expensive than Pt used by common MFCs. |
Degree | Master of Philosophy |
Subject | Electrodes, Oxide. Thin films. Copper oxide. Photoelectrochemistry. |
Dept/Program | Civil Engineering |
Persistent Identifier | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/174334 |
HKU Library Item ID | b4717028 |
DC Field | Value | Language |
---|---|---|
dc.contributor.author | Qian, Weizhong. | - |
dc.contributor.author | 钱伟忠. | - |
dc.date.issued | 2011 | - |
dc.identifier.citation | Qian, W. [钱伟忠]. (2011). Microbial electrodes and Cu2O-based photoelectrodes for innovative electricity generation and pollutant degradation. (Thesis). University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR. Retrieved from http://dx.doi.org/10.5353/th_b4717028 | - |
dc.identifier.uri | http://hdl.handle.net/10722/174334 | - |
dc.description.abstract | Photoelectrochemical cells (PEC) and microbial fuel cells (MFC) are two promising environmental technologies with the purposes of energy production and pollutant degradation. In this study, p-type Cu2O thin film electrodes were synthesized by electrodeposition on the ITO glass. The influences of various electrodeposition conditions, including the deposition potential, temperature, electrolyte pH, substrates and deposition duration on the morphology and the photoelectrochemical properties of the Cu2O films were investigated. The so-called p-type micro-crystal Cu2O thin film photocathodes were synthesized at -0.4 V, 70 °C and pH 10. An innovative composite Cu2O/TiO2 photoelectrode was developed by dip-coating TiO2 on the surface of the Cu2O film. The outer TiO2 layer would help reduce the electron-hole recombination and hence improve the catalyst stability. The photocatalyst was shown to be capable of photocatalytic degradation of model pollutants. Under simulated solar irradiation, methylene blue, acridine orange, and bromocresso brilliant blue G were effectively degraded in the Cu2O-based PEC. The composite Cu2O/TiO2 photoelectrode could further enhance the photodegradation of the dyes. For the study on MFC with the saline wastewater-inoculated MFCs, an electricity output of 581 mW/m2 could be achieved at a NaCl concentration of 200 mM. Based on the characterization of the bioande using the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique, the R(QR)(QR) model, instead of the conventional R(QR) model, was found to fit well with the EIS data of the carbon cloth bioanode. The results support the two-interface-based physical model for the description of the bioanode, including an interface on the flat electrode and the other for the porous biofilm matrix. The new model was employed to monitor the biofilm formation and development on the carbon clothe anode during the MFC start-up. In addition, photocatalytic MFC was developed by using the Cu2O film as the photocathode for the MFC. With the simulated solar light illumination, the PMFC open circuit voltage could be increased by 200 mV comparing to the MFC test. Moreover, the cathode material (Cu2O) is much less expensive than Pt used by common MFCs. | - |
dc.language | eng | - |
dc.publisher | The University of Hong Kong (Pokfulam, Hong Kong) | - |
dc.relation.ispartof | HKU Theses Online (HKUTO) | - |
dc.rights | The author retains all proprietary rights, (such as patent rights) and the right to use in future works. | - |
dc.rights | This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. | - |
dc.source.uri | http://hub.hku.hk/bib/B47170281 | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Electrodes, Oxide. | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Thin films. | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Copper oxide. | - |
dc.subject.lcsh | Photoelectrochemistry. | - |
dc.title | Microbial electrodes and Cu2O-based photoelectrodes for innovative electricity generation and pollutant degradation | - |
dc.type | PG_Thesis | - |
dc.identifier.hkul | b4717028 | - |
dc.description.thesisname | Master of Philosophy | - |
dc.description.thesislevel | Master | - |
dc.description.thesisdiscipline | Civil Engineering | - |
dc.description.nature | published_or_final_version | - |
dc.identifier.doi | 10.5353/th_b4717028 | - |
dc.date.hkucongregation | 2012 | - |
dc.identifier.mmsid | 991032834629703414 | - |