Application of carbon-polymer based composite electrodes for Microbial fuel cells

Abstract

In this review, carbon-polymer-based composite electrodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are reviewed in detail together with a study of carbon materials and polymers. The merits, demerits, and performance of carbon-polymer-based composites as anode and cathode materials for microbial fuel cells are discussed besides an extensive analysis of the literature and new trends in material synthesis. The development of composites with surface- and bulk-modified electrode materials can overcome the major challenge posed by the low power density of MFCs. Nitrogen- and fluorine-containing polymers, such as polyacrylonitrile (PAN), polyaniline (PANI), polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), polydopamine (PDA) and polyacrylamide (PAM), have been identified as potential candidates for bulk or surface modification in the presence of redox active species to enhance the biocompatibility and the effectiveness of the reduction of the cathodes.