scholarly journals Characterization of Carbon Nanotube/Graphene on Carbon Cloth as an Electrode for Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hung-Yin Tsai ◽  
Wei-Hsuan Hsu ◽  
Ying-Chen Huang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Modified Electrodes ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Microbial Decomposition

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which can generate low-pollution power through microbial decomposition, have become a potentially important technology with applications in environmental protection and energy recovery. The electrode materials used in MFCs are crucial determinants of their capacity to generate electricity. In this study, we investigate the performance of using carbon nanotube (CNT) and graphene-modified carbon-cloth electrodes in a single-chamber MFC. We develop a process for fabricating carbon-based modified electrodes andEscherichia coliHB101 in an air-cathode MFC. The results show that the power density of MFCs can be improved by applying a coat of either graphene or CNT to a carbon-cloth electrode, and the graphene-modified electrode exhibits superior performance. In addition, the enhanced performance of anodic modification by CNT or graphene was greater than that of cathodic modification. The internal resistance decreased from 377 kΩ for normal electrodes to 5.6 kΩ for both electrodes modified by graphene with a cathodic catalyst. Using the modified electrodes in air-cathode MFCs can enhance the performance of power generation and reduce the associated costs.

Polyelectrolyte–single wall carbon nanotube composite as an effective cathode catalyst for air-cathode microbial fuel cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 70 (10) ◽  
pp. 1610-1616 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huanan Wu ◽  
Min Lu ◽  
Lin Guo ◽  
Leonard Guan Hong Bay ◽  
Zheng Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Oxygen Reduction ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Reduction Process ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Single Wall Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Single Wall Carbon ◽  
Cathode Catalysts ◽  
Metal Free

Polyelectrolyte–single wall carbon nanotube (SCNT) composites are prepared by a solution-based method and used as metal-free cathode catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, two types of polyelectrolytes, polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDDA) and poly[bis(2-chloroethyl)ether-alt-1,3-bis[3-(dimethylamino)propyl]urea] (PEPU) are applied to decorate the SCNTs and the resulting catalysts exhibit remarkable catalytic ability toward ORR in MFC applications. The enhanced catalytic ability could be attributed to the positively charged quaternary ammonium sites of polyelectrolytes, which increase the oxygen affinity of SCNTs and reduce activation energy in the oxygen reduction process. It is also found that PEPU–SCNT composite-based MFCs show efficient performance with maximum power density of 270.1 mW m−2, comparable to MFCs with the benchmark Pt/C catalyst (375.3 mW m−2), while PDDA–SCNT composite-based MFCs produce 188.9 mW m−2. These results indicate that PEPU–SCNT and PDDA–SCNT catalysts are promising candidates as metal-free cathode catalysts for ORR in MFCs and could facilitate MFC scaling up and commercialization.

Manganese–polypyrrole–carbon nanotube, a new oxygen reduction catalyst for air-cathode microbial fuel cells

2013 ◽  
Vol 221 ◽  
pp. 381-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Lu ◽  
Lin Guo ◽  
Shailesh Kharkwal ◽  
Hua’nan Wu ◽  
How Yong Ng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Oxygen Reduction ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

scholarly journals Three-dimensional graphene/Pt nanoparticle composites as freestanding anode for enhancing performance of microbial fuel cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (10) ◽  
pp. e1500372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shenlong Zhao ◽  
Yuchen Li ◽  
Huajie Yin ◽  
Zhouzhou Liu ◽  
Enxiao Luan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
The Real ◽  
3D Graphene ◽  
Real Application

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are able to directly convert about 50 to 90% of energy from oxidation of organic matters in waste to electricity and have great potential application in broad fields such as wastewater treatment. Unfortunately, the power density of the MFCs at present is significantly lower than the theoretical value because of technical limitations including low bacteria loading capacity and difficult electron transfer between the bacteria and the electrode. We reported a three-dimensional (3D) graphene aerogel (GA) decorated with platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) as an efficient freestanding anode for MFCs. The 3D GA/Pt–based anode has a continuous 3D macroporous structure that is favorable for microorganism immobilization and efficient electrolyte transport. Moreover, GA scaffold is homogenously decorated with Pt NPs to further enhance extracellular charge transfer between the bacteria and the anode. The MFCs constructed with 3D GA/Pt–based anode generate a remarkable maximum power density of 1460 mW/m2, 5.3 times higher than that based on carbon cloth (273 mW/m2). It deserves to be stressed that 1460 mW/m2 obtained from the GA/Pt anode shows the superior performance among all the reported MFCs inoculated with Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Moreover, as a demonstration of the real application, the MFC equipped with the freestanding GA/Pt anode has been successfully applied in driving timer for the first time, which opens the avenue toward the real application of the MFCs.

Novel electrode materials to enhance the bacterial adhesion and increase the power generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

2009 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 557-563 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daqian Jiang ◽  
Baikun Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Bacterial Adhesion ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
High Surface ◽  
High Surface Area ◽  
Conductive Polymer ◽  
Power Production ◽  
Energy Conversion Efficiency ◽  
Carbon Cloth

In this study, two novel electrode materials were tested to enhance bacterial adhesion and increase power production in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Polypyrrole (PPy), a nontoxic conductive polymer, was coated on the plain carbon cloth electrodes to bridge with the biopolymers on bacterial cell membranes and to improve the power production. The PPy-coated electrodes increased the initial power from 20 mW/m2 to 160mW/m2 in the first 4-day period. But there was no clear difference between two PPy coating thicknesses (5-cycle coating and 50-cycle coating) in terms of the bacterial adhesion and power production. Granular activated carbon (GAC), a commonly used bacterial support material with high surface area, exhibited a good bacterial adhesion and high power output. GAC-SCMFCs (single chamber MFCs) generated 5W/m3 and maintained the peak power for 6 days. Compared with plain carbon cloth electrodes, GAC-SCMFCs had lower internal resistances and higher power generations. However, GAC-SCMFCs had lower columbic efficiency and energy conversion efficiency than the conventional two chamber MFCs.

scholarly journals Characteristics of Carbon Nanotubes/Graphene Coatings on Stainless Steel Meshes Used as Electrodes for Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells

2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei-Hsuan Hsu ◽  
Hung-Yin Tsai ◽  
Ying-Chen Huang
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Carbon Nanotubes ◽  
Stainless Steel ◽  
Surface Modification ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Stainless Steel Mesh ◽  
Steel Mesh

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) generate low-pollution power by feeding organic matter to bacteria; MFC applications have become crucial for energy recovery and environmental protection. The electrode materials of any MFC affect its power generation capacity. In this research, nine single-chamber MFCs with various electrode configurations were investigated and compared with each other. A fabrication process for carbon-based electrode coatings was proposed, and Escherichia coli HB101 was used in the studied MFC system. The results show that applying a coat of either graphene or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to a stainless steel mesh electrode can improve the power density and reduce the internal resistance of an MFC system. Using the proposed surface modification method, CNTs and graphene used for anodic and cathodic modification can increase power generation by approximately 3–7 and 1.5–4.5 times, respectively. Remarkably, compared to a standard MFC with an untreated anode, the internal resistances of MFCs with CNTs- and graphene-modified anodes were reduced to 18 and 30% of standard internal resistance. Measurements of the nine systems we studied clearly presented the performance levels of CNTs and graphene applied as surface modification of stainless steel mesh electrodes.

The high enrichment of Geobacter by TiN nanoarray anode catalyst for efficient microbial fuel cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 7726-7735
Author(s):  
Da Liu ◽  
Weicheng Huang ◽  
Qinghuan Chang ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Ruiwen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Dft Calculation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Anode Catalyst ◽  
High Enrichment

TiN nanoarrays, in situ grown on carbon cloth gather 97.2% of the model exoelectrogen Geobacter, greatly enhancing the MFCs' performance. The experimental results and DFT calculation certify the importance of the micro–nano-hierarchical structure.

scholarly journals Carbon Nanotube/Pt Cathode Nanocomposite Electrode in Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment and Bioenergy Production

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (14) ◽  
pp. 8057
Author(s):  
Mostafa Ghasemi ◽  
Mehdi Sedighi ◽  
Yie Hua Tan
Keyword(s):  
Electron Microscopy ◽  
Power Generation ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Carbon Nanotube ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Catalytic Properties ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Cathode Catalyst

In this paper, we reported the fabrication, characterization, and application of carbon nanotube (CNT)-platinum nanocomposite as a novel generation of cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sustainable energy production and wastewater treatment. The efficiency of the carbon nanocomposites was compared by platinum (Pt), which is the most effective and common cathode catalyst. This nanocomposite is utilized to benefit from the catalytic properties of CNTs and reduce the amount of required Pt, as it is an expensive catalyst. The CNT/Pt nanocomposites were synthesized via a chemical reduction technique and the electrodes were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy, electronic dispersive X-Ray analysis, and transmission electron microscopy. The nanocomposites were applied as cathode catalysts in the MFC to obtain polarization curve and coulombic efficiency (CE) results. The catalytic properties of electrodes were tested by linear sweep voltammetry. The CNT/Pt at the concentration of 0.3 mg/cm2 had the highest performance in terms of CE (47.16%), internal resistance (551 Ω), COD removal (88.9%), and power generation (143 mW/m2). In contrast, for the electrode with 0.5 mg/L of Pt catalyst, CE, internal resistance, COD removal, and power generation were 19%, 810 Ω, 96%, and 84.1 mW/m2, respectively. So, it has been found that carbon nanocomposite cathode electrodes had better performance for sustainable clean energy production and COD removal by MFC.

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