Polyaniline networks grown on graphene nanoribbons-coated carbon paper with a synergistic effect for high-performance microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) show promise as a technology for electricity generation from waste, and their performance critically depends on the electrode materials and their structures. Herein, a novel MFC anode was fabricated by electro-depositing polyaniline (PANI) networks onto graphene nanoribbons (GNRs)-coated carbon paper (CP/GNRs/PANI). This anode provides a large surface area for the attachment of bacterial cells and high conductivity to facilitate extracellular electron transfer (EET) from microbes to the electrode. Results showed that the anodic current density and power density of the CP/GNRs/PANI anode were much higher than those of each individual component as anode, indicating the synergistic effect between PANI and GNRs.