Core/Satellite Structured Fe3O4/Au Nanocomposites Incorporated with Three-Dimensional Macroporous Graphene Foam as a High-Performance Anode for Microbial Fuel Cells

The development of advanced anode materials is a significant step to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Here, a core/satellite structured Fe3O4/Au nanocomposite-incorporated three-dimensional (3D) macroporous graphene foam (Fe3O4/Au NCs-3DGF) is fabricated by an effective method, which combines in situ growth, hydrothermal treatment, and freeze-drying technologies. Fe3O4/Au NCs-3DGF is proposed as a decent anode material for MFC. Fe3O4/Au nanocomposites improve the anode/bacteria interaction due to the high bio-affinity between Fe3O4 core and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Moreover, the Au satellites pave high-speed channels for electron transfer, avoiding the adverse influence from the poor conductivity of Fe3O4 core. After the incorporation into 3D macroporous graphene foam, the anode surface for bacterial attachment is expanded, while the bacterial penetration into anode interior is also realized. Benefiting from these advantages, Fe3O4/Au NCs-3DGF exhibits enhanced bacterial hosting ...