scholarly journals A Thin Layer of Activated Carbon Deposited on Polyurethane Cube Leads to New Conductive Bioanode for (Plant) Microbial Fuel Cell

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 574
Author(s):  
Emilius Sudirjo ◽  
Paola Y. Constantino Diaz ◽  
Matteo Cociancich ◽  
Rens Lisman ◽  
Christian Snik ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Field Test ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Polyurethane Foams ◽  
Electrochemically Active

Large-scale implementation of (plant) microbial fuel cells is greatly limited by high electrode costs. In this work, the potential of exploiting electrochemically active self-assembled biofilms in fabricating three-dimensional bioelectrodes for (plant) microbial fuel cells with minimum use of electrode materials was studied. Three-dimensional robust bioanodes were successfully developed with inexpensive polyurethane foams (PU) and activated carbon (AC). The PU/AC electrode bases were fabricated via a water-based sorption of AC particles on the surface of the PU cubes. The electrical current was enhanced by growth of bacteria on the PU/AC bioanode while sole current collectors produced minor current. Growth and electrochemical activity of the biofilm were shown with SEM imaging and DNA sequencing of the microbial community. The electric conductivity of the PU/AC electrode enhanced over time during bioanode development. The maximum current and power density of an acetate fed MFC reached 3 mA·m−2 projected surface area of anode compartment and 22 mW·m−3 anode compartment. The field test of the Plant-MFC reached a maximum performance of 0.9 mW·m−2 plant growth area (PGA) at a current density of 5.6 mA·m−2 PGA. A paddy field test showed that the PU/AC electrode was suitable as an anode material in combination with a graphite felt cathode. Finally, this study offers insights on the role of electrochemically active biofilms as natural enhancers of the conductivity of electrodes and as transformers of inert low-cost electrode materials into living electron acceptors.

A three-dimensional nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel-activated carbon composite catalyst that enables low-cost microfluidic microbial fuel cells with superior performance

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (41) ◽  
pp. 15913-15919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Yang ◽  
Tianyu Liu ◽  
Qiang Liao ◽  
Dingding Ye ◽  
Xun Zhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Carbon Composite ◽  
Superior Performance ◽  
Composite Catalyst ◽  
Graphene Aerogel ◽  
Nitrogen Doped Graphene ◽  
Doped Graphene

Low-cost electrodes were used in miniature microbial fuel cells to generate a remarkably high volumetric power density.

Progress in Microbial Fuel Cells Energy Production

2011 ◽  
Vol 324 ◽  
pp. 457-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicolas Degrenne ◽  
Francois Buret ◽  
Bruno Allard ◽  
Jean Michel Monier
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Power ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Payback Time ◽  
Power Densities

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) harness the natural metabolisms of microbes to produce electrical power from almost any kind of organic matter. In addition to the low power densities (about 1mW for a 1-liter reactor), MFCs are presently built with expensive membrane and electrodes. The payback time of MFCs is therefore very long (evaluated to 25000 years for our lab prototype). Progresses in designing low-cost MFCs are necessary before conceiving large scale energy production.

A monolithic three-dimensional macroporous graphene anode with low cost for high performance microbial fuel cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 (25) ◽  
pp. 21001-21010 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lihua Huang ◽  
Xiufen Li ◽  
Yueping Ren ◽  
Xinhua Wang
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Macroporous Structure

Monolithic 3D-G which is inflexible and has a macroporous structure, crumpled matrix, good conductivity and low cost enhanced the electrogenesis of a MFC.

Development and evaluation of carbon and binder loading in low-cost activated carbon cathodes for air-cathode microbial fuel cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 2 (33) ◽  
pp. 12751-12758 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bin Wei ◽  
Justin C. Tokash ◽  
Guang Chen ◽  
Michael A. Hickner ◽  
Bruce E. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Air Cathode

scholarly journals Correction: Development and evaluation of carbon and binder loading in low-cost activated carbon cathodes for air-cathode microbial fuel cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 4 (75) ◽  
pp. 40043-40043
Author(s):  
Bin Wei ◽  
Justin C. Tokash ◽  
Guang Chen ◽  
Michael A. Hickner ◽  
Bruce E. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Air Cathode

scholarly journals Wood and Black Liquor-Based N-Doped Activated Carbon for Energy Application

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 9237
Author(s):  
Ance Plavniece ◽  
Aleksandrs Volperts ◽  
Galina Dobele ◽  
Aivars Zhurinsh ◽  
Kätlin Kaare ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
High Performance ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Black Liquor ◽  
Lithium Ion ◽  
Global Demand ◽  
Nitrogen Doped Carbon ◽  
Oxygen Reduction Catalyst

Fuel cells, batteries and supercapacitors are critical to meet the rising global demand for clean, sustainable energy. Biomass-derived activated carbon can be obtained with tailored properties to fulfil the extensive need for low-cost, high-performance, catalyst and electrode materials. To investigate the possibility of nanoporous nitrogen-doped carbon materials as catalysts in fuel cells and electrodes in lithium-ion batteries, biomass precursors were thermochemically activated with NaOH at 800 °C, nitrogen was introduced using dicyandiamide and doping was performed at 800 °C. The chemical composition, porous structure, texture and electrochemical properties of the obtained materials change depending on the biomass precursor used. It has been found that the most promising precursor of the obtained materials is wood char, both as an oxygen reduction catalyst in fuel cells, which shows better properties than the commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst, and as an anode material in Li-ion batteries. However, catalysts based on black liquor and hybrid material have comparable properties with commercial 20% Pt/C catalyst and can be considered as a cheaper alternative.

Improved Power Performance of Activated Carbon Anode by Fe2O3 Addition in Microbial Fuel Cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 700 ◽  
pp. 170-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Hong Peng ◽  
Xi Zhang Chu ◽  
Peng Fei Huang ◽  
Ke Shan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Activated Carbon ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Energy Output ◽  
Anode Surface ◽  
Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽  
Carbon Anode ◽  
Power Performance ◽  
Key Factors

Poor energy output and high cost are the key factors to inhibit the development and application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Different types of modification techniques for anode material are suggested to improve power performance in MFCs. nanoFe2O3 is characteristics of no toxicity, biocompatibility and low cost. In this work, stainless steel mesh (SSM), ultracapacitor activated carbon with SSM (AcM), Fe2O3 added AcM (AMF) anodes are investigated to improve MFCs performance. The highest maximum power density (806 ± 26 mW·m-2) is obtained in AMF anode, which is 11 % higher than that of AcM (730 ± 27 mW·m-2), and 57 folds higher than that of SSM anode (12 ± 0.7 mW·m-2). The semi-conducting properties of passive film on the anode surface play a rather important role in anodic reaction by Mott-Schottky analysis. Tafel test demonstrates that the exchange current density (8.36×10-4 A·m-2) is improved by 20 % for AMF compared with AcM control (6.93×10-4 A·m-2). These results show AcM is suitable as MFCs anode, and further addition of Fe2O3 can increase the extracellular electron transfer in that way increase power production in MFCs.

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