Poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)‐Modified Graphite Felt and Carbon Cloth Anodes for Use in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

AbstractAnode modification is an effective method for enhancing extracellular electron transportation and improving the power density of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC). In this study, we decorated the surface of Carbon Cloth (CC) and Graphite Felt (GF) with a new conductive polymer, poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxyhiophene) (PEDOT), using galvanostatic electropolymerization and fabricated a CC/PEDOT and GF/PEDOT anode for MFC application. Cyclic Voltammetry (CV) and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) analyses illustrated that the PEDOT coating improved a redox‐active surface area, high electron transfer capabilities, and lower charge‐transfer resistance of anode. These modified electrodes give enhanced MFC performances with maximum energy generation and coulombic efficiency compared with plain electrode. The morphological characteristics like higher surface area and open structure of felt and carbon material promoted microbial formation and electrochemical active area. Compared with the unmodified anode, the PEDOT anodic modification improves the current density by 6.9 times i. e., 3.813 Am−2. Thus GF/PEDOT anode excelled among the studied anodes with the synergetic effect of PEDOT coating and structural configuration, making it a potential optimum anode for MFC application.