Characterization of New Nonstoichiometric Ferroelectric (Li0.95Cu0.15)Ta0.76Nb0.19O3 and Comparative Study With (Li0.95Cu0.15)Ta0.57Nb0.38O3 as Photocatalysts in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

This work investigates the photocatalytic activity of new ferroelectric material with formula (Li0.95Cu0.15)Ta0.76Nb0.19O3 (LT76) in a single chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) and compares its performance with the similar photocatalyst (Li0.95Cu0.15)Ta0.57Nb0.38O3 (LT57). The photocatalysts LT76 and LT57 were synthesized by ceramic route under the same conditions, with the same starting materials. The ratio Ta/Nb was fixed at 4.0 and 1.5 for LT76 and LT57, respectively. These phases were characterized by different techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), particle size distribution (PSD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and ultraviolet (UV)–visible (Vis). The new photocatalyst LT76 presents specific surface area of 0.791 m2/g and Curie temperature of 1197 °C. The photocatalytic efficiency of this material is assessed in terms of wastewater treatment and electricity generation by power density and removal rate of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the presence of a light source. The values of maximum power density and COD removal were 19.77 mW/m3 and 93%, respectively, for LT76.