Progressive Green Nanocomposites for Microbial Fuel Cells—State-of-the-Art and Technical Advancements

Abstract

ABSTRACT Current trends in fuel cell reliant energy technologies are rapidly growing to meet the modern global environmental and sustainability concerns. Among different types of fuel cells developed so far, polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell revealed benefits of low price, high efficiency, and environmental safety. To attain further ecological and sustainable aspects, green nanomaterials have been developed to design electrodes, electrolytes, as well as membrane electrode assembly of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell. Consequently, as bioelectricity source, microbial fuel cells or bioreactors have been focused for safe energy production and conversion through biowastes and microbial/anaerobic conditions. Use of green nanocomposites in microbial fuel cell electrolyte membrane, electrode, and membrane electrode assembly has brought about new revolutions in this field. Keeping in view the next energy trends, this cutting-edge review is designed to portray the synthesis, characteristics, and potential of green nanocomposites in microbial fuel cell components. Literature has been investigated for the effect of the incorporation of green polymer/nanoparticle-based electrodes/electrolytes/catalysts and synthesis approaches to attain superior electrochemical features, power/current density, power output, proton conductivity, ion-exchange capacity, and fuel cell efficiency. Besides, principle/mechanism of microbial fuel cell functioning, challenges, and significant prospects have been covered in this innovative attempt.