Treatment of carbon fiber brush anodes for improving power generation in air-cathode microbial fuel cells

Carbon brush electrodes have been used to provide high surface areas for bacterial growth and high power densities in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). A high-temperature ammonia gas treatment has been used to enhance power generation, but less energy-intensive methods are needed for treating these electrodes in practice. Three different treatment methods are examined here for enhancing power generation of carbon fiber brushes: acid soaking (CF-A), heating (CF-H), and a combination of both processes (CF-AH). The combined heat and acid treatment improve power production to 1370 mW m⁻², which is 34% larger than the untreated control (CF-C, 1020 mW m⁻²). This power density is 25% higher than using only acid treatment (1100 mW m⁻²) and 7% higher than that using only heat treatment (1280 mW m⁻²). XPS analysis of the treated and untreated anode materials indicates that power increases are related to higher N1s/C1s ratios and a lower C-O composition. These findings demonstrate efficient and simple methods for improving power generation using graphite fiber brushes, and provide insight into reasons for improving performance that may help to further increase power through other graphite fiber modifications.     

Macroporous carbon foam with high conductivity as an efficient anode for microbial fuel cells

In this work, we demonstrate graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam as anode for microbial fuel cells for the first time. Graphitized mesophase pitch-based carbon foam (GMCF), mesophase pitch-based carbon brush (MCB), pitch-based carbon felt (CF) with the different structures are investigated. Among them, GMCF-MFC exhibits excellent power generation property of 1800 mW/m², which is 1.33 and 2.65 times that of MCB-MFC and CF-MFC. GMCF is a graphitized material with a high electrical conductivity that accelerates extracellular electron transport (EET) between microorganisms and the surface of the material, thereby improving the electrochemical performance of MFCs. Besides, GMCF has well-developed macroporous (almost 300 μm in diameter) and through-pore structures, which could facilitate the enrichment of microorganisms and the diffusion of ions. And the staggered through-pores fix exoelectrogens in the pores, preventing them from “swimming out” and promoting the formation of microbial communities in these pores. More importantly, GMCF is a low-cost rigid carbon foam that can be easily fabricated into large-sized electrodes, which is beneficial for application to MFC amplification tests.     

A graphene modified anode to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells

Graphene with a Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area of 264 m² g⁻¹ has been used as anodic catalyst of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) based on Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922). The electrochemical activities of plain stainless steel mesh (SSM), polytetra?uoroethylene (PTFE) modified SSM (PMS) and graphene modified SSM (GMS) have been investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV), discharge experiment and polarization curve measurement. The GMS shows better electrochemical performance than those of SSM and PMS. The MFC equipped with GMS anode delivers a maximum power density of 2668 mW m⁻², which is 18 times larger than that obtained from the MFC with the SSM anode and is 17 times larger than that obtained from the MFC with the PMS anode. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results indicate that the increase in power generation could be attributed to the high surface area of anode and an increase in the number of bacteria attached to anode.     

Polyaniline/carbon black composite-supported iron phthalocyanine as an oxygen reduction catalyst for microbial fuel cells

Polyaniline/carbon black (PANI/C) composite-supported iron phthalocyanine (FePc) (PANI/C/FePc) has been investigated as a catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) in an air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The electrocatalytic activity of the PANI/C/FePc toward the ORR is evaluated using cyclic voltammogram and linear scan voltammogram methods. In comparison with that of carbon-supported FePc electrode, the peak potential of the ORR at the PANI/C/FePc electrode shifts toward positive potential, and the peak current is greatly increased, suggesting the enhanced activity of FePc absorbed onto PANI/C. Additionally, the results of the MFC experiments show that PANI/C/FePc is well suitable to be the cathode material for MFCs. The maximum power density of 630.5 mW m⁻² with the PANI/C/FePc cathode is higher than that of 336.6 mW m⁻² with the C/FePc cathode, and even higher that that of 575.6 mW m⁻² with a Pt cathode. Meanwhile, the power per cost of the PANI/C/FePc cathode is 7.5 times greater than that of the Pt cathode. Thus, the PANI/C/FePc can be a potential alternative to Pt in MFCs.     

Welding assembly of 3D interconnected carbon nanotubes on carbon fiber as the high-performance anode of microbial fuel cells

The development of large surface-area and high conductivity electrode is a prerequisite for the construction of high-performance microbial fuel cells. Herein, we report an innovative approach to the fabrication of such high-performance electrodes via the welding assembly of 3D interconnected carbon nanotubes (CNTs) on a carbon-fiber (CF) paper electrode. The minimized interfacial ohmic loss between CNTs and the CF scaffold endowed the microbial fuel cells with the welding-assembled CNT-CF electrodes excellent electrochemical properties with the maximum power density of 2015.6 mW m⁻², 10.0 times higher than that obtained with the untreated CP/CNT (499.8 mW m⁻²) carbon paper anode. As compared to the conventional chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth technique for fabricating CNT- CF electrodes, this welding assembly approach is more versatile and much easier for up-scaling; on this basis, our work may pave a new avenue to the large-scale production of high-performance microbial fuel cells.     

Performance improvement of air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cell using a mesoporous carbon modified anode

A novel mesoporous carbon (MC) modified carbon paper has been constructed using layer-by-layer self-assembly method and is used as anode in an air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) for performance improvement. Using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), we have demonstrated that the MC modified electrode exhibits a more favorable and stable electrochemical behavior, such as increased active surface area and enhanced electron-transfer rate, than that of the bare carbon paper. The MFC equipped with MC modified carbon paper anode achieves considerably better performance than the one equipped with bare carbon paper anode: the maximum power density is 81% higher and the startup time is 68% shorter. CV and EIS analysis confirm that the MC layer coated on the carbon paper promotes the electrochemical activity of the anodic biofilm and decreases the charge transfer resistance from 300 to 99 Ω. In addition, the anode and cathode polarization curves reveal negligible difference in cathode potentials but significant difference in anode potentials, indicating that the MC modified anode other than the cathode was responsible for the performance improvement of MFC. In this paper, we have demonstrated the utilization of MC modified carbon paper to enhance the performance of MFC.     

Enhanced performance of microbial fuel cells by electrospinning carbon nanofibers hybrid carbon nanotubes composite anode

A novel carboxylated multiwalled carbon nanotubes/carbon nanofibers (CNTs/CNFs) composite electrode was fabricated by electrospinning. Heat pressing process was applied to improve the interconnection of fiber aggregates, mechanical stability and reduce the contact resistance. Optimal dose of carbon nanotubes was selected to fabricate the anode in microbial fuel cells after comparing with plain electrospinning CNFs anode and commercial carbon felt (CF) anode. As a result, the optimal anode delivered a maximum power density of 362 ± 20 mW m⁻², which is 110%, 122% higher than that of carbon nanofibers and carbon felt anodes. Cyclic voltammograms, Tafel and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests also verified that the prepared electrode has largest catalytic current (148 μA cm⁻²) and exchange current density i₀ (6.3 × 10⁻⁵ A cm⁻²), as well as smallest internal resistance (∼40 Ω). The as-prepared anode exhibited a better conductivity, excellent biocompatibility, good hydrophilicity and superior electrocatalytic activity, which was not only beneficial to the attachment and reproduction of microorganisms, but also promoted extracellular electron transfer between bacteria cells and the anode. This result shows that electrospinning has a promising perspective in fabricating high performance electrodes for microbial fuel cells.     

Analysis of carbon fiber brush loading in anodes on startup and performance of microbial fuel cells

Flat carbon anodes placed near a cathode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) are adversely affected by oxygen crossover, but graphite fiber brush anodes placed near the cathode produce high power densities. The impact of the brush size and electrode spacing was examined by varying the distance of the brush end from the cathode and solution conductivity in multiple MFCs. The startup time was increased from 8 ± 1 days with full brushes (all buffer concentrations) to 13 days (50 mM), 14 days (25 mM) and 21 days (8 mM) when 75% of the brush anode was removed. When MFCs were all first acclimated with a full brush, up to 65% of the brush material could be removed without appreciably altering maximum power. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that the main source of internal resistance (IR) was diffusion resistance, which together with solution resistance reached 100 Ω. The IR using EIS compared well with that obtained using the polarization data slope method, indicating no major components of IR were missed. These results show that using full brush anodes avoids adverse effects of oxygen crossover during startup, although brushes are much larger than needed to sustain high power.     

Pyrolyzing pyrite and microalgae for enhanced anode performance in microbial fuel cells

Developing low-cost and high-performance anodes is of great significance for wider applications of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this study, microalgae and pyrite were co-pyrolyzed (P/MC) and then coated on carbon felt (CF) with PTFE as a binder. P/MC modification resulted in increased electroactive surface area, superhydrophilicity and higher biocompatibility. Besides, the P/MC-CF anode reduced the charge transfer resistance from 35.1 Ω to 11.4 Ω. The highest output voltage and the maximum power density of the MFC equipped with the P/MC-CF anode were 657 mV and 1266.7 mW/m², respectively, which were much larger than that of the MFC with the CF anode (530 mV, 556.7 mW/m²). The P/MC-CF anode also displayed higher columbic efficiency (39.41%) than the CF anode (32.37%). This work suggests that pyrolyzing microalgae with pyrite is a promising method to enhance the performance of MFCs.     

An overview of electrode materials in microbial fuel cells

Electrode materials play an important role in the performance (e.g., power output) and cost of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which use bacteria as the catalysts to oxidize organic (inorganic) matter and convert chemical energy into electricity. In this paper, the recent progress of anode/cathode materials and filling materials as three-dimensional electrodes for MFCs has been systematically reviewed, resulting in comprehensive insights into the characteristics, options, modifications, and evaluations of the electrode materials and their effects on different actual wastewater treatment. Some existing problems of electrode materials in current MFCs are summarized, and outlooks for future development are also suggested.     

Effects of brush lengths and fiber loadings on the performance of microbial fuel cells using graphite fiber brush anodes

An alternative method for fabricating graphite fiber brush (GFB) electrodes was proposed. Two series of GFB electrodes with different lengths (L) and loaded fiber masses (m) were fabricated. The effects of m/L on the biomass distribution, active biomass content, electrochemical behavior and MFC performance were investigated. For the electrodes with a similar m but different L, substrate supply within the interior of GFB electrodes improved with L, leading to higher biomass content and consequently the improved performance. However, a complex trend was found for the electrodes with different m and similar L, due to the opposing trends of substrate supply and actual functional area for electrochemically active bacteria with m. Furthermore, m-normalized biomass content and power density of the GFB electrodes increased with decreasing of m/L ratio due to the improved graphite fiber utilization until 0.014 g mm⁻¹, below which they remained constant since the utilization of graphite fibers plateaued.     

Enhanced current production of the anode modified by microalgae derived nitrogen-rich biocarbon for microbial fuel cells

In this study, nitrogen-rich biocarbon derived from carbonized Chlorella pyrenoidosa (CCP) was proposed to enhance the current generation from the anode of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The results revealed that the carbon cloth decorated by CCP (CCP-CC) achieved the highest bioelectrocatalytic current density of 13.44 ± 0.34 A m⁻² after the successful startup, which was 12% and 22% higher than those with carbon black (CB-CC) and the bare carbon cloth (CC), respectively. The results can be attributed to the advantages of CCP-CC over CB-CC and CC in terms of a higher active biomass content, a much smaller charge transfer resistance resulting from the facilitated direct electron transfer due to the presence of N-containing functional groups in CCP and the enhanced mediated electron transfer caused by the larger surface area of the CCP-CC anode for the flavin mediator adsorption.     

Carbon nanotube/polyaniline composite as anode material for microbial fuel cells

A carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyaniline (PANI) composite is evaluated as an anode material for high-power microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) are employed to characterize the chemical composition and morphology of plain PANI and the CNT/PANI composite. The electrocatalytic behaviour of the composite anode is investigated by means of electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and discharge experiments. The current generation profile and constant current discharge curves of anodes made from plain PANI, 1 wt.% and 20 wt.% CNT in CNT–PANI composites reveal that the performance of the composite anodes is superior. The 20 wt.% CNT composite anode has the highest electrochemical activity and its maximum power density is 42 mW m⁻² with Escherichia coli as the microbial catalyst. In comparison with the reported performance of different anodes used in E. coli-based MFCs, the CNT/PANI composite anode is excellent and is promising for MFC applications.     

Improved performance of microbial fuel cell using combination biocathode of graphite fiber brush and graphite granules

The efficiency and sustainability of microbial fuel cell (MFC) are heavily dependent on the cathode performance. We show here that the use of graphite fiber brush (GBF) together with graphite granules (GGs) as a basal material for biocathode (MFC reactor type R1) significantly improve the performance of a MFC compared with MFCs using GGs (MFC reactor type R2) or GFB (MFC reactor type R3) individually. Compared with R3, the use of the combination biocathode (R1) can shorten the start-up time by 53.75%, improve coulombic efficiencies (CEs) by 21.0 ± 2.7% at external resistance (R_EX) of 500 Ω, and increase maximum power densities by 38.2 ± 12.6%. Though the start-up time and open circuit voltage (OCV) of the reactor R2 are similar to R1, the CE (R_EX = 500 Ω) and maximum power density of R2 are 21.4 ± 1.7% and 38.2 ± 15.6% lower than that of R1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analyses indicate the bacteria on cathodes of R1 and R2 are richer than that of R3. Molecular taxonomic analyses reveal that the biofilm formed on the biocathode surface is dominated by strains belonging to Nitrobacter, Achromobacter, Acinetobacter, and Bacteroidetes. Combination of GFB and GGs as biocathode material in MFC is more efficient and can achieve sustainable electricity recovery from organic substances, which substantially increases the viability and sustainability of MFCs.     

Studies on the carbon reactions in the anode of deposited carbon fuel cells

The carbon reactions in the anode of deposited carbon fuel cells were studied experimentally and theoretically. Deposition experiments were conducted by decomposing methane in a thermogravimetric analyzer at 800 °C, with both NiO or YSZ powders and small chips of an unused anode-supported SOFC button cell used separately as bed materials. The carbon tended to deposit on the Ni surfaces with the NiO or YSZ powders, while with the anode chips, the deposited carbon formed particles comparable in size to the Ni or YSZ particles with little carbon deposited near the electrolyte where the electrochemical reactions occur. Thus, the results infer that the deposited carbon has little opportunity to participate in the electrochemical reactions. A two-dimensional isothermal model was then developed to examine the influence of the deposited carbon on the cell performance. The results show the diffusion coefficient of CO has the largest influence, followed by the gasifying reactivity and the electrochemical reactivity of the carbon. Finally, a short deposition time and a high methane concentration are favored to improve the performance of deposited carbon fuel cells.     

Electrophoretic deposition of graphene oxide on carbon brush as bioanode for microbial fuel cell operated with real wastewater

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment and energy harvesting. The properties of the anode material play a critical role in the performance of the MFC. In this study, graphene oxide was prepared by a modified hummer's method. A thin layer of graphene oxide was incorporated on the carbon brush using an electrophoretic technique. The deoxygenated graphene oxide formed on the surface of the carbon brush (RGO-CB) was investigated as a bio-anode in MFC operated with real wastewater. The performance of the MFC using the RGO-CB was compared with that using plain carbon brush anode (PCB). Results showed that electrophoretic deposition of graphene oxide on the surface of carbon brush significantly enhanced the performance of the MFC, where the power density increased more than 10 times (from 33 mWm^?2 to 381 mWm^?2). Although the COD removal was nearly similar for the two MFCs, i.e., with PCB and RGO-CB; the columbic efficiency significantly increased in the case of RGO-CB anode. The improved performance in the case of the modified electrode was related to the role of the graphene in improving the electron transfer from the microorganism to the anode surface, as confirmed from the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy measurements.     

Iron-gelatin aerogel derivative as high-performance oxygen reduction reaction electrocatalysts in microbial fuel cells

Currently, precious based materials are known as highly efficient and widely used catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction (ORR). The expensive price and scarce resource of precious metals have stimulated researchers to explore low-cost and high-performance non-precious metal catalysts. Gelatin is a promising precursor to prepare cost-effective and high-performance catalysts because of abundant micropores and nitrogen self-doping sites after pyrolysis. Herein, we developed a new highly active ORR catalyst (G/C–Fe-2) containing Fe–N coordination sites and Fe/Fe₃C nanoparticles. G/C–Fe-2 exhibited excellent ORR electrocatalytic activity (onset potential: 0.21 V, and limiting current density:7.36 mA cm^?2) and high-performance in air-cathode MFCs (Output voltage: 660 mV, and maximum power density: 560 mW m^?2). It is significant for synthesizing low-cost and high-activity ORR electrocatalysts through this strategy.     

Duckweed derived nitrogen self-doped porous carbon materials as cost-effective electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cells

Cost-effective metal-free electrocatalysts for oxygen reduction reaction were incredible significance of improvement about microbial fuel cells. In this research, a novel nitrogen self-doped porous carbon material is effectively inferred with KOH activation from a natural and renewable biomass, duckweed. Self-doped nitrogen in carbon matrix of nitrogen-doped porous carbon at 800 °C provides abundant active sites for oxygen reduction and improves the oxygen reduction kinetics significantly. Moreover, the porous structure of nitrogen-doped porous carbon at 800 °C encourages the transition of electrolyte and oxygen molecules throughout the oxygen reduction reaction. Oxygen on the three-phase boundary is reduced to water according to a four-electron pathway on nitrogen-doped porous carbon electrocatalyst. The single-chamber microbial fuel cell with nitrogen-doped porous carbon as electrocatalyst achieves comparable power density (625.9 mW m⁻²) and better stability compared to the commercial Pt/C electrocatalyst. This simple and low-cost approach provides a straightforward strategy to prepare excellent nitrogen-doped electrocatalyst derived from natural and renewable biomass directly as a promising alternate to precious platinum-based catalysts in microbial fuel cells.     

Landfill leachate: A promising substrate for microbial fuel cells

Landfill leachate emerges as a promising feedstock for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In the present investigation, direct air-breathing cathode-based MFCs are fabricated to investigate the maximum open circuit potential from landfill leachate. Three MFCs that have different cathode areas are fabricated and studied for 17 days under open circuit conditions. The maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) of the cell is observed to be as high as 1.29 V which is the highest OCV ever reported in the literature using landfill leachate. The maximum cathode area specific power density achieved in the reactor is 1513 mW m^?2. Further studies are under progress to understand the origin of high OCV obtained from landfill leachate-based MFCs.     

Effect of cathode electron-receiver on the performance of microbial fuel cells

Performance of cathode electron receivers has direct effect on the voltage and power density of MFC. This paper explored the electrical performance of MFC with potassium permanganate, ferricyanide solution and dissolved oxygen (DO) as cathode electron receivers. The results showed that the internal resistance of MFC with DO depends on catalyst and is higher than that of MFC with potassium permanganate and potassium ferricyanide solution. The maximum volume power density is 4.35 W/m³, and the smallest internal resistance is only about 54 Ω. In case of DO, the internal resistance and power density is different depending on the catalyst and is not too much related to the membranes.