scholarly journals Conducting Polymer-Based Nanohybrids for Fuel Cell Application

Polymers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 2993
Author(s):  
Srabanti Ghosh ◽  
Suparna Das ◽  
Marta E. G. Mosquera
Keyword(s):  
Catalytic Activity ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Metal Oxides ◽  
Conducting Polymer ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Graphene Nanosheets ◽  
Synergistic Effects ◽  
Polymer Surface

Carbon materials such as carbon graphitic structures, carbon nanotubes, and graphene nanosheets are extensively used as supports for electrocatalysts in fuel cells. Alternatively, conducting polymers displayed ultrahigh electrical conductivity and high chemical stability havegenerated an intense research interest as catalysts support for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) as well as microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Moreover, metal or metal oxides catalysts can be immobilized on the pure polymer or the functionalized polymer surface to generate conducting polymer-based nanohybrids (CPNHs) with improved catalytic performance and stability. Metal oxides generally have large surface area and/or porous structures and showed unique synergistic effects with CPs. Therefore, a stable, environmentally friendly bio/electro-catalyst can be obtained with CPNHs along with better catalytic activity and enhanced electron-transfer rate. The mass activity of Pd/polypyrrole (PPy) CPNHs as an anode material for ethanol oxidation is 7.5 and 78 times higher than that of commercial Pd/C and bulk Pd/PPy. The Pd rich multimetallic alloys incorporated on PPy nanofibers exhibited an excellent electrocatalytic activity which is approximately 5.5 times higher than monometallic counter parts. Similarly, binary and ternary Pt-rich electrocatalysts demonstrated superior catalytic activity for the methanol oxidation, and the catalytic activity of Pt24Pd26Au50/PPy significantly improved up to 12.5 A per mg Pt, which is approximately15 times higher than commercial Pt/C (0.85 A per mg Pt). The recent progress on CPNH materials as anode/cathode and membranes for fuel cell has been systematically reviewed, with detailed understandings into the characteristics, modifications, and performances of the electrode materials.

scholarly journals Facing Indonesia’s Future Energy with Bacterio-Algal Fuel Cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 68-82
Author(s):  
Intan Subadri ◽  
Adhi Satriyatama ◽  
Ignatius D. M. Budi
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Electrode Materials ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Organic Substrate ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Operational Parameter

The energy crisis has become a global issue that has plagued almost all parts of the world. MFCs (Microbial Fuel Cells) is an alternative technology because of its ability to convert waste into electrical energy. The bacterio-algal fuel cell (BAFCs) is kind of an effort for increasing the economic value and carbon capture capability of MFCs. In this case, algae used as a catholyte and organic substrate containing anode-reducing exoelectrogenic bacteria acted as anolyte. This research will examine the potential of algae in BAFCs as an alternative energy for Indonesia's future. By photosynthesis reaction, bacterio-algal fuel cells are operated in a self-sustaining cycle. It can be configured in single, dual chambers, and triple chambers. The performance of bacterio-algal fuel cells is strongly influenced by the bacterial and algae species in each compartment. Factors involved in bacterial-algal fuel cells are also analyzed and assessed: electrode materials, membrane, carbon sources, and algae pretreatment, including the operational parameter, such as pH and temperature. Bacterio-algal fuel cells are recommended to be used to convert algae into electricity by scaling-up and integrating the devices. Organic substrate could be obtained from municipal wastewater. Algae as by-product could be harvested and converted into certain products. Algal Fuel Cell is the solution to produce electricity and reduce CO2 pollution at the same time. Also, an algal fuel cell is potential for sustainable use in the future. By integrating the algal fuel cell in the factory that produces high-concentrated wastewater, the fuel cell can purify the wastewater so that it is safe to be drained to the environment and also can make an integrated electricity production for the whole factory. Some ways to improve the power production are proposed to improve the power generation from BAFCs since this technology offers clean, affordable, sustainable energy, and in-line with SDGs.

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.

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.

scholarly journals Comparative Study on the Effects of Three Membrane Modification Methods on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Fan ◽  
Junyi Shi ◽  
Tian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Generation Capacity ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton exchange membrane is an important factor affecting the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells. The performance of microbial fuel cells can be improved by modifying the proton exchange membrane by some suitable method. Microbial fuel cells with membranes modified by SiO2/PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride), sulfonated PVDF and polymerized MMA (methyl methacrylate) electrolyte were tested and their power generation capacity and water purification effect were compared. The experimental results show that the three membrane modification methods can improve the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells to some extent. Among them, the microbial fuel cell with the polymerized MMA modified membrane showed the best performance, in which the output voltage was 39.52 mV, and the electricity production current density was 18.82 mA/m2, which was 2224% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane; and the COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal rate was 54.8%, which was 72.9% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane. Modifying the membrane with the polymerized MMA is a very effective way to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells.

scholarly journals Microbial Fuel Cells, Related Technologies, and Their Applications

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 2384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gene Drendel ◽  
Elizabeth R. Mathews ◽  
Lucie Semenec ◽  
Ashley E. Franks
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Engineering Design ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Emerging Technology ◽  
Engineering Material ◽  
Cell Systems ◽  
Material Sciences

Microbial fuel cells present an emerging technology for utilizing the metabolism of microbes to fuel processes including biofuel, energy production, and the bioremediation of environments. The application and design of microbial fuel cells are of interest to a range of disciplines including engineering, material sciences, and microbiology. In addition, these devices present numerous opportunities to improve sustainable practices in different settings, ranging from industrial to domestic. Current research is continuing to further our understanding of how the engineering, design, and microbial aspects of microbial fuel cell systems impact upon their function. As a result, researchers are continuing to expand the range of processes microbial fuel cells can be used for, as well as the efficiency of those applications.

Effect of Metal Modification to Carbon Paper Anodes on the Performance of Yeast-Based Microbial Fuel Cells Part Ι: In the Case without Exogenous Mediator

2013 ◽  
Vol 534 ◽  
pp. 76-81 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enas Taha Kasem ◽  
Takuya Tsujiguchi ◽  
Nobuyoshi Nakagawa
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Thin Layer ◽  
Electrode Surface ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Carbon Paper ◽  
Electrode Potentials ◽  
Different Thickness

Effect of modification of carbon paper with a thin layer of cobalt or gold on the performance of yeast-based microbial fuel cells was investigated. The modification was conducted by depositing Co or Au thin layer with different thickness, 5 nm and 30 nm, using a sputtering technique. The electrode performance was evaluated by measuring the electrode potentials and the fuel cell power output. The Co modification significantly increased the performance of the fuel cell, while the Au modification inhibited the performance. SEM observation indicated that the adhesion density of the yeast cells on the electrode surface was affected by the metals. It was confirmed that the electron transfer took place through the surface confined species at the mediatorless anode.

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