(Digital Presentation) Electrochemical Characterization of Microbial Fuel Cell Electrodes Using Cyclic Voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy

Abstract

Renewable energy sources are required to lessen energy generation's reliance on fossil fuels. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) exploit microbial metabolic processes to oxidize organic matter to generate energy from wastewater; they serve as a low-cost, sustainable form of wastewater management. Despite the development of effective MFCs, low efficiency and power density have prevented their widespread adoption over traditional fuel cells. Modification of MFC electrodes has been investigated as a means to improve their limited power output. Here we assessed the MFC carbon cloth electrodes and compared them to a traditional glassy carbon, and clean carbon cloth. The electrochemical properties of the electrode surfaces were explored using a three electrode cell consisting of a platinum wire counter electrode and Ag/ AgCl/ 1M KCl reference electrode. Electrolyte dependent studies were conducted in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) in the presence of ferri/ferrocyanide. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), cyclic voltammetry (CV), differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), and square wave voltammetry (SWV) of the solution redox couple with various working electrode were performed in order to characterize electrode surface, prior, and post MFC use. The ultimate goal is to optimize the electrode surface chemistry to promote optimal MFC performance.