scholarly journals An investigation of anode and cathode materials in photomicrobial fuel cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 374 (2061) ◽  
pp. 20150080 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth Schneider ◽  
Rebecca J. Thorne ◽  
Petra J. Cameron
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Cathode Materials ◽  
Direct Electron Transfer ◽  
Porous Ceramic ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Anode Surface ◽  
Electron Mediator ◽  
Photosynthetic Organisms ◽  
First Results ◽  
Rate Limit

Photomicrobial fuel cells (p-MFCs) are devices that use photosynthetic organisms (such as cyanobacteria or algae) to turn light energy into electrical energy. In a p-MFC, the anode accepts electrons from microorganisms that are either growing directly on the anode surface (biofilm) or are free floating in solution (planktonic). The nature of both the anode and cathode material is critical for device efficiency. An ideal anode is biocompatible and facilitates direct electron transfer from the microorganisms, with no need for an electron mediator. For a p-MFC, there is the additional requirement that the anode should not prevent light from perfusing through the photosynthetic cells. The cathode should facilitate the rapid reaction of protons and oxygen to form water so as not to rate limit the device. In this paper, we first review the range of anode and cathode materials currently used in p-MFCs. We then present our own data comparing cathode materials in a p-MFC and our first results using porous ceramic anodes in a mediator-free p-MFC.

Combination of Biological Processes and Fuel Cells to Harvest Solar Energy

2008 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dieter F. Ihrig ◽  
H. Michael Heise ◽  
Ulrich Brunert ◽  
Martin Poschmann ◽  
Ruediger Kuckuk ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Anaerobic Fermentation ◽  
Algal Cell ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Dry Mass ◽  
Solar Energy Harvesting ◽  
First Results ◽  
Continuous Feeding

Biomass production by micro-algae is by a factor of 10 more efficient than by plants, by which an economic process of solar energy harvesting can be established. Owing to the very low dry mass content of algal suspensions, the most promising way of their conversion to a high exoergic and transportable form of energy is the anaerobic production of biogas. On account of this, we are developing such processes including a micro-algal reactor, methods for micro-algal cell separation and biomass treatment, and a subsequent two-stage anaerobic fermentation process. First results from parts of this development work are shown. The continuous feeding of the anaerobic process over several weeks using micro-algal biomass is discussed in more details. The biogas is composed of methane, higher hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulphide. Using steam reforming, it can be converted to a mixture of carbon dioxide and hydrogen. These gases can be separated using membrane technology. It is possible to form a closed carbon cycle by recycling the carbon dioxide to the micro-algal process. The transportable and storable hydrogen product is a valuable energy source and can be converted to electrical energy and heat using fuel cells. The simulation of such a process will be explicated.

scholarly journals Electricity Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Neutral Red as an Electronophore

2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 1292-1297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Doo Hyun Park ◽  
J. Gregory Zeikus
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Anaerobic Bacteria ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
Neutral Red ◽  
Anaerobic Growth ◽  
Resting Cells ◽  
Electron Mediator ◽  
E Coli

ABSTRACT Neutral red (NR) was utilized as an electron mediator in microbial fuel cells consuming glucose to study both its efficiency during electricity generation and its role in altering anaerobic growth and metabolism of Escherichia coli andActinobacillus succinogenes. A study of chemical fuel cells in which NADH, NR, and ferricyanide were the electron donor, the electronophore, and the electron acceptor, respectively, showed that electrical current produced from NADH was proportional to the concentration of NADH. Fourfold more current was produced from NADH in chemical fuel cells when NR was the electron mediator than when thionin was the electron mediator. In microbial fuel cells in which E. coli resting cells were used the amount of current produced from glucose when NR was the electron mediator (3.5 mA) was 10-fold more than the amount produced when thionin was the electron mediator (0.4 mA). The amount of electrical energy generated (expressed in joules per mole of substrate) and the amount of current produced from glucose (expressed in milliamperes) in NR-mediated microbial fuel cells containing either E. coli or A. succinogeneswere about 10- and 2-fold greater, respectively, when resting cells were used than when growing cells were used. Cell growth was inhibited substantially when these microbial fuel cells were making current, and more oxidized end products were formed under these conditions. When sewage sludge (i.e., a mixed culture of anaerobic bacteria) was used in the fuel cell, stable (for 120 h) and equivalent levels of current were obtained with glucose, as observed in the pure-culture experiments. These results suggest that NR is better than other electron mediators used in microbial fuel cells and that sludge production can be decreased while electricity is produced in fuel cells. Our results are discussed in relation to factors that may improve the relatively low electrical efficiencies (1.2 kJ/mol) obtained with microbial fuel cells.

scholarly journals Application of Electrospun Nanofibers for Fabrication of Versatile and Highly Efficient Electrochemical Devices: A Review

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 1741
Author(s):  
Seyedeh Nooshin Banitaba ◽  
Andrea Ehrmann
Keyword(s):  
Solar Cells ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Sensors ◽  
Electrospun Nanofibers ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
High Specific Surface Area ◽  
Large Space ◽  
Electrolytic Cells ◽  
Research Areas ◽  
Electrochemical Devices

Electrochemical devices convert chemical reactions into electrical energy or, vice versa, electricity into a chemical reaction. While batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, solar cells, and sensors belong to the galvanic cells based on the first reaction, electrolytic cells are based on the reversed process and used to decompose chemical compounds by electrolysis. Especially fuel cells, using an electrochemical reaction of hydrogen with an oxidizing agent to produce electricity, and electrolytic cells, e.g., used to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, are of high interest in the ongoing search for production and storage of renewable energies. This review sheds light on recent developments in the area of electrospun electrochemical devices, new materials, techniques, and applications. Starting with a brief introduction into electrospinning, recent research dealing with electrolytic cells, batteries, fuel cells, supercapacitors, electrochemical solar cells, and electrochemical sensors is presented. The paper concentrates on the advantages of electrospun nanofiber mats for these applications which are mostly based on their high specific surface area and the possibility to tailor morphology and material properties during the spinning and post-treatment processes. It is shown that several research areas dealing with electrospun parts of electrochemical devices have already reached a broad state-of-the-art, while other research areas have large space for future investigations.

scholarly journals Lack of Electricity Production by Pelobacter carbinolicus Indicates that the Capacity for Fe(III) Oxide Reduction Does Not Necessarily Confer Electron Transfer Ability to Fuel Cell Anodes

2007 ◽  
Vol 73 (16) ◽  
pp. 5347-5353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanno Richter ◽  
Martin Lanthier ◽  
Kelly P. Nevin ◽  
Derek R. Lovley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electron Donors ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Anode Surface ◽  
Oxide Reduction ◽  
Fuel Cell Anodes

ABSTRACT The ability of Pelobacter carbinolicus to oxidize electron donors with electron transfer to the anodes of microbial fuel cells was evaluated because microorganisms closely related to Pelobacter species are generally abundant on the anodes of microbial fuel cells harvesting electricity from aquatic sediments. P. carbinolicus could not produce current in a microbial fuel cell with electron donors which support Fe(III) oxide reduction by this organism. Current was produced using a coculture of P. carbinolicus and Geobacter sulfurreducens with ethanol as the fuel. Ethanol consumption was associated with the transitory accumulation of acetate and hydrogen. G. sulfurreducens alone could not metabolize ethanol, suggesting that P. carbinolicus grew in the fuel cell by converting ethanol to hydrogen and acetate, which G. sulfurreducens oxidized with electron transfer to the anode. Up to 83% of the electrons available in ethanol were recovered as electricity and in the metabolic intermediate acetate. Hydrogen consumption by G. sulfurreducens was important for ethanol metabolism by P. carbinolicus. Confocal microscopy and analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed that half of the cells growing on the anode surface were P. carbinolicus, but there was a nearly equal number of planktonic cells of P. carbinolicus. In contrast, G. sulfurreducens was primarily attached to the anode. P. carbinolicus represents the first Fe(III) oxide-reducing microorganism found to be unable to produce current in a microbial fuel cell, providing the first suggestion that the mechanisms for extracellular electron transfer to Fe(III) oxides and fuel cell anodes may be different.

ChemInform Abstract: Ln2MO4 Cathode Materials for Solid Oxide Fuel Cells

ChemInform ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 42 (48) ◽  
pp. no-no
Author(s):  
Hui Zhao ◽  
Qiang Li ◽  
Li Ping Sun
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells ◽  
Cathode Materials ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel

Characterization of tantalum doped lanthanum strontium ferrite as cathode materials for solid oxide fuel cells

2015 ◽  
Vol 648 ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabella Natali Sora ◽  
Valeria Felice ◽  
Francesca Zurlo ◽  
Silvia Licoccia ◽  
Elisabetta Di Bartolomeo
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells ◽  
Cathode Materials ◽  
Strontium Ferrite ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Oxide Fuel ◽  
Lanthanum Strontium

scholarly journals Cathode materials for ceramic based microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

2015 ◽  
Vol 40 (42) ◽  
pp. 14706-14715 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlo Santoro ◽  
Kateryna Artyushkova ◽  
Iwona Gajda ◽  
Sofia Babanova ◽  
Alexey Serov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Cathode Materials ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells

scholarly journals Perspective on advanced nanomaterials used for energy storage and conversion

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hsuanyi Huang ◽  
Rong Li ◽  
Cuixia Li ◽  
Feng Zheng ◽  
Giovanni A. Ramirez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Sustainable Energy ◽  
Ambient Pressure ◽  
Electrical Energy ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Solid Oxide ◽  
Energy Storage And Conversion ◽  
Energy Materials

Abstract To drive the next ‘technical revolution’ towards commercialization, we must develop sustainable energy materials, procedures, and technologies. The demand for electrical energy is unlikely to diminish over the next 50 years, and how different countries engage in these challenges will shape future discourse. This perspective summarizes the technical aspects of nanomaterials’ design, evaluation, and uses. The applications include solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOEC), microbial fuel cells (MFC), supercapacitors, and hydrogen evolution catalysts. This paper also described energy carriers such as ammonia which can be produced electrochemically using SOEC under ambient pressure and high temperature. The rise of electric vehicles has necessitated some form of onboard storage of fuel or charge. The fuels can be generated using an electrolyzer to convert water to hydrogen or nitrogen and steam to ammonia. The charge can be stored using a symmetrical supercapacitor composed of tertiary metal oxides with self-regulating properties to provide high energy and power density. A novel metal boride system was constructed to absorb microwave radiation under harsh conditions to enhance communication systems. These resources can lower the demand for petroleum carbon in portable power devices or replace higher fossil carbon in stationary power units. To improve the energy conversion and storage efficiency, we systematically optimized synthesis variables of nanomaterials using artificial neural network approaches. The structural characterization and electrochemical performance of the energy materials and devices provide guidelines to control new structures and related properties. Systemic study on energy materials and technology provides a feasible transition from traditional to sustainable energy platforms. This perspective mainly covers the area of green chemistry, evaluation, and applications of nanomaterials generated in our laboratory with brief literature comparison where appropriate. The conceptual and experimental innovations outlined in this perspective are neither complete nor authoritative but a snapshot of selecting technologies that can generate green power using nanomaterials.

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