Air-breathing microbial fuel cell with enhanced performance using nanocomposite proton exchange membranes |
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| Authors: | Mohammad Mahdi Hasani-Sadrabadi Erfan Dashtimoghadam Seyed Nasireddin Saeedi Eslami Ghasem Bahlakeh Mohammad Ali Shokrgozar Karl I Jacob |
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| Affiliation: | 1. G.W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA;2. Department of Biomedical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran;3. Department of Polymer Engineering and Color Technology, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran;4. National Cell Bank, Pasture Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran;5. Department of Chemical Engineering, Amirkabir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran;6. Department of Engineering and Technology, Golestan University, Aliabad Katool, Iran;g School of Materials Science and Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA, USA |
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| Abstract: | This work aims to improve the performance of air-breathing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) through using hydrocarbon polymer based nanocomposite proton exchange membranes. Accordingly, nanocomposite membranes based on sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) (SPEEK) and montmorillonite (MMT) were investigated for such an application. Although the incorporation of MMT into SPEEK membranes resulted in reduced oxygen permeability as well as proton conductivity, but the overall selectivity was found to be improved. MFC tests revealed that using the optimized nanocomposite membrane (SPEEK-70/MMT-3 wt%) results in a considerably higher open circuit voltage (OCV) compared to the corresponding neat membrane. Moreover, it was found that the SPEEK-70/MMT-3 wt% membrane is able to provide about 40% more power output than Nafion®117. On the account of high proton conductivity, low oxygen permeability, high electrochemical performance, ease of preparation and low cost, hydrocarbon based nanocomposite PEMs could be considered as promising electrolytes to enhance the performance of MFCs. |
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| Keywords: | Air-breathing microbial fuel cells Sulfonated poly(ether ether ketone) Nanocomposite membranes |
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