Antibacterial MnS/Co-SNC cathode catalysts for high-performance microbial fuel cells

The practical application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is often hindered by sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) kinetics and biofouling at the cathode. Herein, we developed a bifunctional MnS/Co co-anchored N-doped carbon catalyst (MnS/Co-SNC) derived from ZIF-67. This catalyst was designed to simultaneously tackle both problems by integrating enhanced ORR activity with intrinsic antibacterial functionality. The incorporation of MnS generates heterogeneous MnS/Co interfaces, inducing electron redistribution and optimizing oxygen adsorption, while carbon nanotubes (CNTs) grown in situ facilitate rapid electron transfer. Benefiting from these synergies, MnS/Co-SNC exhibits an onset potential of 0.92 V and a half-wave potential of 0.88 V in alkaline media, surpassing commercial Pt/C. More importantly, the sulfur species provide potent antibacterial activity, effectively suppressing biofilm formation and preserving catalytic sites. When applied as an air-cathode in single-chamber MFCs, MnS/Co-SNC delivers a maximum power density of 1400 mW m^-2 and maintains a stable voltage output over 120 h, outperforming state-of-the-art non-precious metal catalysts. This work presents a rational strategy for designing multifunctional electrocatalysts that simultaneously address ORR kinetics and biofouling, advancing the practical deployment of MFCs for sustainable energy generation.