WS2/WO3 modified carbon anode as efficient electrocatalysts for enhancing electricity generation and pollution removal

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as a new energy technology to solve severe energy and environmental issues. As a bridge connecting the internal and external circuits and a habitat for microorganisms, the anode is a key component influencing the performance output of MFCs. Recently, tungsten trioxide (WO 3 ) and tungsten disulfide (WS 2 ) can be used for the MFC setup. In this study, a direct hydrothermal synthesis method was employed to prepare WS 2 /WO 3 nanomaterials. It was subsequently integrated with carbon paper (CP) to develop WS 2 /WO 3 -CP and WO 3 -CP anodes for MFCs. Contact angle tests showed that the hydrophilicity of the WS 2 /WO 3 -CP electrode was significantly improved. In electrochemical tests, the MFCs with WS 2 /WO 3 -CP anode exhibited lower charge transfer resistance and higher electron transfer efficiency than the original ones. The MFC with the WS 2 /WO 3 -CP anode had a maximum power density reaching 2.32 W·m −2 , which was 1.34 and 3.09 times higher than that of the WO 3 -CP and bare CP anodes, respectively. Meanwhile, this MFC with the WS 2 /WO 3 -CP anode showed higher removal rates of chemical oxygen demand and SO 4 2− than the WO 3 -CP and CP anodes. The modified WS 2 /WO 3 nanomaterials are promising materials that can be adopted for MFCs industrial use.