Abstract
One of the most intriguing renewable energy production methods being explored currently is electrical power generation by microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, to make MFC technology economically feasible, cost efficient electrode manufacturing processes need to be proposed and demonstrated. In this context, VITO has developed an innovative electrode manufacturing process based on film casting and phase inversion. The screening and selection process of electrode compositions was done based on physicochemical properties of the active layer, which in turn maintained a close relation with their composition A dual hydrophilic-hydrophobic character in the active layer was achieved with values of εhydrophilic up to 10% while εTOTAL remained in the range 65 wt % to 75 wt %. Eventually, selected electrodes were tested as air cathodes for MFC in half cell and full cell modes. Reduction currents, up to −0.14 mA·cm2− at −100 mV (vs. Ag/AgCl) were reached in long term experiments in the cathode half-cell. In full MFC, a maximum power density of 380 mW·m−2 was observed at 100 Ω external load.
Highlights
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that produce electricity by means of oxidizing organic matter using microorganisms as catalyst at the anode
VITO has developed an electrode manufacturing process based on film casting and phase inversion, which would enable the production of large multilayered electrodes by a continuous manufacturing process
Physico-chemical properties of the electrode’s active layers such as total porosity, hydrophilic porosity, and BET surface area maintain a direct relation with their composition and the fabrication method
Summary
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that produce electricity by means of oxidizing organic matter using microorganisms as catalyst at the anode. The electrons are transferred from the surface of a biocatalyst to the anode and to the cathode through an external load, while, the ions (protons) migrate through an ion conducting or ion permeable membrane, or through the electrolyte between the electrodes. At the cathode, these electrons are accepted by an electron acceptor (mostly oxygen) in presence of the reducing equivalents (e.g., protons) to produce an electro-reduced substance (e.g., water, hydrogen peroxide) [1,2]. Uncatalyzed activated carbon has shown promising performance for the oxygen-reduction reaction (ORR) when compared to Pt [11].
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