Enhancing sustainable bioelectricity generation using facile synthesis of nanostructures of bimetallic Co–Ni at the combined support of halloysite nanotubes and reduced graphene oxide as novel oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalyst in single-chambered microbial fuel cells

The present study aims to utilize the high surface area of the nanotube structure of halloysite (HNTs), an aluminosilicate clay, and conductivity of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as support material for the deposition of nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) nanoparticles. With that aim, a novel bimetallic cathode electrocatalyst, Co–Ni @ HNTs-rGO (Catalyst H3), is developed. This catalyst is characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Catalyst H3 demonstrates outstanding oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activity, electrochemical stability, electrocatalytic performance, and lowest resistance in comparison to the other developed catalysts and conventional Pt/C. Catalyst H3 is used in single-chambered MFCs (microbial fuel cells), where the anode is filled with molasses-laden wastewater. The attained maximum power density in MFC (catalyst H3) is 455 ± 9 mW/m2, which is higher than other catalysts. All the results indicate towards its potential use in MFC application.