Anode Of Microbial Fuel Cell Research Articles

Enhanced bioenergy recovery by innovative application of chia seeds nanopowder for anode modification in microbial fuel cell treating hospital wastewater

ABSTRACT Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are new bioelectrochemical techniques for conversion of organic waste materials into energy depending on the metabolic activity of the anodic biofilm, which acts as the biocatalyst in the anode compartment. Hence, the anode material is a priority for better growth of bacterial species and electrical conductivity as well. In this study, an innovative application of Chia seeds nanopowder (CSNP) was carried out for the first time with acid-activated multiwall carbon nanotubes (functionalised MWCNTs) for anode nanomodification by overlaying the surfaces of the graphite anodes (GA) in MFCs fuelled with real hospital wastewater (HWW). Two tubular-enclosed dual-chamber MFCs were constructed, setup and operated in a continuous mode for 3 months. MFC1 was assembled with CSNP/MWCNTs-GA, whereby MFC2 was assembled with MWCNTs-GA. The results revealed higher power output up to 2202.73 mW/m3 observed in MFC1 compared to 1271.57 mW/m3 in MFC2. The efficiencies of organic content (COD) removal were 86.1% and 82.9% obtained in MFC1 and MFC2, respectively. Although both efficiencies of COD removal were relatively comparable, however, a remarkable increase in COD removal efficiency was achieved in MFC1. These observations indicated the potential role of CSNP for enhancing the biofilm growth and increasing the electrode conductivity.

A CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene-Modified Anode Improved the Performance Characteristics of a Microbial Fuel Cell in Terms of Bioelectricity Generation and Water Treatment

Water pollution is an alarming and critical environmental challenge that demands immediate attention. In addition to this, the world is also facing an energy crisis of ever-increasing proportions. Managing these issues through a sustainable approach is the need of the hour. In this context, microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology, with its dual capability to treat wastewater with simultaneous power generation, is gaining recognition as a sustainable solution. The current study was designed to evaluate the impact of a modified MFC anode, i.e., CoFe2O4@CF, Nb2C-MXene@CF, and CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene@CF, on the performance of MFC technology. A hydrothermal technique was used to synthesize CoFe2O4 and Nb2C-MXene, followed by characterization using XRD, SEM, and EDX tools. The results demonstrated that CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene@CF significantly enhanced the working performance of a MFC as compared to CoFe2O4@CF and Nb2C-MXene@CF. The MFC with this configuration produces a stable voltage (699.8 mV), coulombic efficiency (23.8%), COD removal (84%), and power density (394.272 mWm−2), with corresponding current density (888 mAm−2). These improvements were possibly due to the excellent electrocatalytic activity and strong biocompatibility of the modifier. Conclusively, the CoFe2O4/Nb2C-MXene composite is ascertained to be an emphatic anode material for MFCs with superior characteristics.

Research on the Performance of New Microbial Fuel Cell Anodes

In recent years, with the vigorous development of the maritime transportation industry, the resulting problem of ship oil pollution has become increasingly prominent. Efficient and thorough treatment of oily wastewater is the key to solving such problems. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is a promising biological treatment method due to its good degradation effect, no secondary pollution, and energy recovery. In this paper, the discarded corn cob materials in nature were selected for high-temperature carbonization at 350°C, and NaOH was used to modify the modified biochar. Then, the coating technology of Ti3C2 MXene, NbC, WC, TaC and other materials was used to modify the surface of biochar, and the biochar anode material was obtained to construct a double-chamber microbial fuel cell device. The properties of the modified anode biochar materials were studied.

The effect of inoculum source of different pollution levels on the performances of microbial fuel cell biosensors

Selection of inoculum sources is a key factor in constructing microbial fuel cells (MFCs), and the property of inoculum sources is greatly affected by the degree of environmental pollution. However, limited attention has been paid to how these differences affect the response of MFC biosensors. Here the effects of inoculum sources with varying pollution levels on the performances of constructed MFCs were evaluated, and the microbial communities were analyzed before and after inoculation. The results showed significant differences in the detection of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and toxicity (Cu2+) among the five groups of MFC biosensors. Combined with the data of the microbial community, the results indicated that the increase rate of the initial start-up voltage is related to the abundance of original electroactive bacteria (EAB) in the inoculum source. The higher the abundance of EAB, the faster increase rate in the initial start-up voltage and the shorter start-up time. The difference in the detection range of the BOD should be related to the ability of the microbial communities to withstand the organic shock loads. The microbial community's tolerance to Cu2+ was affected by the original water quality of the inoculum source. The high metal ion content leads to low sensitivity of MFC biosensor to Cu2+ ion. Enterobacteriaceae were abundant in all the five groups of MFCs, indicating that the dominant bacteria can be enriched in MFC anode biofilms with the inoculum sources of different pollution levels. The microbial community compositions of the anode biofilms were affected by the inoculum sources of different pollution levels, which in turn resulted in the differences in MFCs performances.

Changes in the microbial community structure and diversity during the electricity generation process of a microbial fuel cell with algal-film cathode

Abstract A two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) with algal-film cathode was constructed. It showed good electric-generating performance with three electric-generating stages: start-up, development, and stable. An average output voltage reached ~0.412 V during the stable period. A maximum power density during continuous operation was 19.76 mW/m2. Bacterial samples were collected from the anode in the three stages (A1, A2, and A3), and their community structure and diversity were analyzed using Illumina MiSeq high-throughput sequencing technology. A total of 4238 operational taxonomic units were identified based on the number of taxa. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes played a dominant role in the three stages and increased significantly during electricity generation. Compared with A1, the relative abundances of Proteobacteria in A2 and A3 increased by 23.30% and 32.06%, respectively, whereas those of Bacteroidetes in A2 and A3 increased by 5.56% and 14.50%, respectively. At the genus level, there were differences in the composition of bacterial communities among the three stages. Acinetobacter and Chlorobium became the dominant genera in A2, replacing Nitrospira and norank_f__Saprospiraceae in A1, and Sphingobacterium and Ochrobactrum became the dominant genera in A3. According to the sample cluster and principal component analyses, A1 was clustered into one class, and A2 and A3 were clustered into a second class. This work revealed bacterial community succession at the anode of an algal-film cathode MFC during the electricity generation process, which provides a theoretical basis for the subsequent promotion of electricity generation by algal-film cathode MFCs.

Biocompatible and capacitive PDA-Ov-Co3O4@CC anode augmented exoelectrogens enrichment and extracellular electron transfer in microbial fuel cells

Metal oxides rich in oxygen vacancies (Ov) possess excellent intrinsic conductivity, variable valence metal center and high capacitance, which were potential candidates as microbial fuel cells anode. However, their high bacterial toxicity greatly hindered the activity of biofilm. To solve this issue, in this work, polydopamine (PDA) covered capacitive Ov doped Co3O4 nanosheets were designed and successfully grown on carbon cloth (CC). The introduction of Ov significantly promoted the charge storage, the net charge and the accumulated charge were 217.1 and 2680.3 C/m2, respectively, surpassed Co3O4 anode without Ov. In addition, Ov also decreased the charge-transfer resistance (Rct), effectively accelerating EET. The Rct of PDA/Ov-Co3O4@CC was 29.51 Ω, lower than CC (382.10 Ω). The cover of PDA prevented the direct contact between metal ions and microorganisms, greatly enhanced the bacterial viability. The power density of MFCs with PDA/Ov-Co3O4@CC anode was 2.77 W/m2, 1.45 times higher than that of bare CC (1.90 W/m2). In addition, PDA/Ov-Co3O4@CC anode displayed excellent coulombic efficiency and daily COD removal amount (23.5 % and 147.6 mg/L/d), higher than the control groups. The community analysis showed the abundance of Geobacter on PDA/Ov-Co3O4@CC anode was 91 %, higher than other anodes. Present study developed a facile and effective PDA coating strategy to simultaneously enhance the biocompatibility and capacitance of Ov-rich metal oxides, which will be a promising method for the preparation of high performance MFCs anode.

Tailored synthesis of CoFe2O4 nanorods to prevent clogging in the microstructured biochar-supported MFC anode for sustained performance

Biochar with highly porous structures and organic functional moieties can act as an efficient micro-substrate for bacterial interaction. This study explores the potential of biochar combined with a CoFe2O4 catalyst as an anode material in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). To prevent bacterial clogging of the biochar pores, we strategically synthesized rod-shaped CoFe2O4 nano substrates. When decorated on the biochar surface, these nanorods served as pillars for bacterial growth, preventing pore clogging and enhancing the electron transfer mechanism. SEM and TEM images confirmed the presence of nanorods on the biochar surface. S. putrefaciens utilizes Co+2 and Fe+2 ions released from CoFe2O4 as electron acceptors, promoting their growth and colonization on the anode surface. The contact angle measurements of the fabricated anode showed it to be hydrophilic, with a water contact angle (θw) of 37.4°. OSP analyses revealed that the anode has a textured surface, further favoring bacterial adhesion and biofilm formation. The double-chambered MFC exhibited the highest current density of 32.225 A/m3. This study underscores the importance of biochar and the strategic enhancement of electrode performance through the surface tuning of nanocatalysts for application in microbial fuel cells.

High-Performance Macroporous Free-Standing Microbial Fuel Cell Anode Derived from Grape for Efficient Power Generation and Brewery Wastewater Treatment.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the potential to directly convert the chemical energy in organic matter into electrical energy, making them a promising technology for achieving sustainable energy production alongside wastewater treatment. However, the low extracellular electron transfer (EET) rates and limited bacteria loading capacity of MFCs anode materials present challenges in achieving high power output. In this study, three-dimensionally heteroatom-doped carbonized grape (CG) monoliths with a macroporous structure were successfully fabricated using a facile and low-cost route and employed as independent anodes in MFCs for treating brewery wastewater. The CG obtained at 900 °C (CG-900) exhibited excellent biocompatibility. When integrated into MFCs, these units initiated electricity generation a mere 1.8 days after inoculation and swiftly reached a peak output voltage of 658 mV, demonstrating an exceptional areal power density of 3.71 W m-2. The porous structure of the CG-900 anode facilitated efficient ion transport and microbial community succession, ensuring sustained operational excellence. Remarkably, even when nutrition was interrupted for 30 days, the voltage swiftly returned to its original level. Moreover, the CG-900 anode exhibited a superior capacity for accommodating electricigens, boasting a notably higher abundance of Geobacter spp. (87.1%) compared to carbon cloth (CC, 63.0%). Most notably, when treating brewery wastewater, the CG-900 anode achieved a maximum power density of 3.52 W m-2, accompanied by remarkable treatment efficiency, with a COD removal rate of 85.5%. This study provides a facile and low-cost synthesis technique for fabricating high-performance MFC anodes for use in microbial energy harvesting.

Silver nanowire-doped conductive polymer hydrogel anode for increasing electron transfer and COD removal rate simultaneously in microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can generate electrons through microbial metabolism of organic matter in sewage. In this paper, carbon felt as base material, the conductive polymers polyaniline and polypyrrole combined with silver nanowires were doped in hydrogel, a super hydrophilicity, low electron transfer resistance, good biocompatibility hydrogel MFC anode (PANI-PPy-Ag NWs/CF) were prepared. It showed a hand-torn bread structure, this three-dimensional (3D) porous structure increased microbial attachment amount. The anode could reach a maximum voltage output of 0.66 V in only 5.5 h, and produce a maximum power density of 2196.61 mW/m3. Due to the doping of silver nanowire, a new electronic mode was explored, coulomb efficiency of 31.01 % and an ultra-high COD removal rate (96.69 %) was obtained. This study introduces a conductive composite hydrogel MFC anode, which provides a new idea for the material diversity, electrical production and sewage removal performance of MFC anode.

The performance of microbial fuel cell with sodium alginate and super activated carbon composite gel modified anode

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have the functions of wastewater treatment and power generation. The incorporation of modified anodes enhances the sustainable power generation performance of MFCs. In this study, to evaluate the feasibility of sodium alginate (SA) as a biocompatible binder, hydrogel mixed with super activated carbon (SAC) and SA was modified the carbon cloth anode of MFC. The results showed that the maximum output voltage in the SAC/SA hydrogel modified anode MFC was 0.028 V, which was increased by 115%, compared with the blank carbon cloth anode. The internal resistance of MFC was 9429 Ω, which was 18% lower than that of control (11560 Ω). The maximum power density was 6.14 mW/m2, which was increased by 365% compared to the control. After modification of SAC/SA hydrogel, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency reached to 56.36% and was 12.72% higher than the control. Coulombic efficiency with modified anode MFC reached 17.65%, which was increased by 104%, compared with the control. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of utilizing SA as a biocompatible binder for anode modification, thereby imparting sustainable and enhanced power generation performance to MFCs. This study presented a new selectivity for harnessing algal bioresources and improving anode binders in future MFC applications.

Electricity generation and real oily wastewater treatment by Pseudomonas citronellolis 620C in a microbial fuel cell: pyocyanin production as electron shuttle

In the present study, the potential of Pseudomonas citronellolis 620C strain was evaluated, for the first time, to generate electricity in a standard, double chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC), with oily wastewater (OW) being the fuel at 43.625 mg/L initial chemical oxygen demand (COD). Both electrochemical and physicochemical results suggested that this P. citronellolis strain utilized efficiently the OW substrate and generated electricity in the MFC setup reaching 0.05 mW/m2 maximum power. COD removal was remarkable reaching 83.6 ± 0.1%, while qualitative and quantitative gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the OW total petroleum and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and fatty acids revealed high degradation capacity. It was also determined that P. citronellolis 620C produced pyocyanin as electron shuttle in the anodic MFC chamber. To the authors’ best knowledge, this is the first study showing (phenazine-based) pyocyanin production from a species other than P. aeruginosa and, also, the first time that P. citronellolis 620C has been shown to produce electricity in a MFC. The production of pyocyanin, in combination with the formation of biofilm in the MFC anode, as observed with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis, makes this P. citronellolis strain an attractive and promising candidate for wider MFC applications.

Promoting bioremediation of brewery wastewater, production of bioelectricity and microbial community shift by sludge microbial fuel cells using biochar as anode

Seeking low-cost and eco-friendly electrode catalyst of microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor has received extensive attention in recent decades. In this study, a sludge MFC was coupled with biochar-modified-anode (BC-300, BC-400, and BC-500) for actual brewery wastewater treatment. The physicochemical properties of biochar largely depended on the pyrolysis temperature, further affecting the removal efficiency of wastewater indicators. BC-400 MFC proved to be efficient for TN and NH4+-N removal, while the maximum removal efficiencies of COD and TP were achieved by BC-500 MFC, reaching respectively 97.14 % and 89.67 %. Biochar could promote the degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in wastewater by increasing the electrochemical performances of MFC. The maximum output voltage of BC-400 MFC reached 410.24 mV, and the maximum electricity generation of 108.05 mW/m2 was also obtained, surpassing the pristine MFC (BCC-MFC) by 4.67 times. High-throughput sequencing results illustrated that the enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) and functional bacteria (Longilinea, Denitratisoma, and Pseudomonas) in BC-MFCs, contributed to pollutants degradation and electron transfer. Furthermore, biochar affected directly the electrical conductivity of wastewater, simultaneously changing microbial community composition of MFC anode. Considering both enhanced removal efficiency of pollutants and increased power generation, the results of this study would offer technical reference for the application of biochar as MFC catalyst for brewery wastewater treatment.

Study of the Use of Gas Diffusion Anode with Various Cathodes (Cu-Ag, Ni-Co, and Cu-B Alloys) in a Microbial Fuel Cell

Advancing microbial fuel cell (MFC) technologies appears to be a crucial direction in bolstering wastewater treatment efforts. It ensures both energy recovery (bioelectricity production) and wastewater pre-treatment. One of the problems in the widespread use of MFCs is the generation of a small amount of electricity. Hence, a pivotal concern revolves around enhancing the efficiency of this process. One avenue of investigation in this realm involves the selection of electrode materials. In this research, a carbon-based gas diffusion electrode (GDE) was used as the anode of MFC. Whereas for the cathode, a copper mesh with various catalysts (Cu-B, Ni-Co, and Cu-Ag) was used. This research was conducted in glass MFCs with the sintered glass acting as a chamber separator. This research was conducted for various electrode systems (GDE/Cu-Ag, GDE/Ni-Co, and GDE/Cu-B). This study analyzed both the electrical parameters and chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction time. In each case (for each electrode system), bioelectricity production was achieved. This work shows that when GDE is used as the anode and Cu-B, Ni-Co and Cu-Ag alloys as the cathode, the most efficient system is the GDE/Cu-Ag system. It ensures the fastest start-up, the highest power density, and the shortest COD reduction time.

Hierarchical modulation of extracellular electron transfer processes in microbial fuel cell anodes for enhanced power output through improved Geobacter adhesion

Although microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is nearing practical realization, the challenge of attaining higher power output continues to impede its widespread implementation. In this study, we successfully developed free-standing three-dimensional high-performance anode materials for MFCs using a straightforward "one-step" process based on garlic. The resulting anode not only promotes the accumulation of biomass and the enrichment of exoelectrogen Geobacter but also facilitates interfacial extracellular electron transfer. This led to rapid start-up within just three days, a robust power density of 12.37 W/m3, and an impressive 24.04 % coulombic efficiency in mixed-culture MFC reactors. Our investigation into the underlying mechanisms of exocellular electron transfer revealed improvements in both direct electron transfer and mediated electron transfer processes. Notably, the fabrication of carbonized garlic MFC anodes proves to be technically competitive and economically relevant. It not only paves the way for the development of high-performance MFCs but also provides valuable insights for the rational design of materials related to microbial electrochemical technologies.

ZnSe-doped N-C skeleton-driven electrode for enhanced electron transport in microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), a promising green energy source, have faced limitations in performance. To address this, we synthesized a porous Zn-Se-N-C nanomaterial with a large specific surface area and significant defect density through the utilization of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs). Surface unique topography characteristics are tuned by controlling the annealing temperature. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations confirmed that the synergistic effect of Zn and Se in ZnSe nanoparticles can significantly improve oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) electrocatalytic activity. Experimental results demonstrated that the ORR performance of Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C catalyst is comparable to that Pt/C catalyst in both alkaline and neutral conditions, especially in alkaline media. When employed as the cathode catalyst in asymmetrical MFCs with a neutral anode and an alkaline cathode, the Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C(cathode)-MFC system achieved an impressive output current density of 8 ± 0.2 A/m−2 and a remarkable power density of 2000 ± 30 mW m−2. Additionally, the unique pore structure of Zn-Se-N-C1000°C made it highly suitable as an anode in MFCs. The Zn-Se-N-C 1000 °C (anode)-MFC demonstrated an output current density of 7.1 ± 0.9 A/m−2 and a power density of 3000 ± 111 mW m−2.

Facilely Prepared Carbon Dots as Effective Anode Modifier for Enhanced Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for obtaining energy in wastewater. Effective extracellular electron transfer is one of the key factors for its practical application. In this work, carbon dots (CDs) enriched with oxygen-containing groups on the surface were synthesized as an efficient anode modifier using a simple hydrothermal method and common reactants. The experimental findings indicated that anodes modified with CDs exhibited increased electrical conductivity and greater hydrophilicity. These modifications facilitated increased microorganism loading and contributed to enhancing electrochemical processes within the anode biofilm. The CD-modified MFCs exhibited higher maximum power density (661.1 ± 42.6 mW·m-2) and open-circuit voltage (534.50 ± 6.4 mV), which were significantly better than those of the blank group MFCs (484.1 ± 14.1 mW·m-2 and 447.50 ± 12.1 mV). The use of simple carbon materials to improve the microbial loading on the MFCs anode and the electron transfer between the microbial-electrode may provide a new idea for the design of efficient MFCs.

Effect of hydrofluoric acid-modified Co3O4/Y-type molecular sieves on MFC performance

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a green technology that facilitates resource utilization of wastewater by generating electricity while degrading organic and ammonia nitrogen pollutants. The anode plays a crucial role in the MFC performance, demanding excellent electrochemical performance and high stability. In this paper, a new high-performance anode of Co3O4 composite Y molecular sieve (Co3O4/Y) was prepared, and the effect of the Co3O4 ratio and hydrofluoric acid (HF) modification on the Co3O4/Y performance was also investigated. The results showed that the Co3O4/Y, synthesized through the hydrothermal method with 30 wt% loading of Co3O4 followed by 10 % HF treatment, demonstrated superior electrochemical performance, which had the highest redox peak current density, the largest current response area, and the maximum exchange current density of 0.038 mA/cm2. Four anode catalysts of MFC, namely, blank carbon cloth (CC), Co3O4-CC, Co3O4/Y-CC, and H-Co3O4/Y-CC were prepared, and four groups of MFCs were constructed for the treatment of mixed wastewater consisting of the aged landfill leachate and shale gas fracturing wastewater. Notably, the H-Co3O4/Y-CC group showed the best performance in power generation, achieving a maximum stabilized output voltage (448 mV), a maximum power density (1179 mW/m2), and a minimum apparent internal resistance (466 Ω). Additionally, the removal rate of ammonia nitrogen exceeded 40 % in the mixed wastewater of the 4 groups of MFCs. This study provided a viable strategy for fabricating high-performance MFC anode materials and offered insights into the simultaneous disposal of domestic and industrial wastewater in MFCs.

3D Porous Sponge/Carbon Nanotube/Polyaniline/Chitosan Capacitive Bioanode Material for Improving the Power Generation and Energy Storage Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

Anode materials play a crucial role in the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in terms of power output. In this study, carbon nanotube (CNT)/polyaniline (PANI)/chitosan (CS) composites were prepared on a porous sponge matrix. The high electrical conductivity of CNTs, the capacitive behavior of PANI, and the biocompatibility of CS were leveraged to enhance the electricity generation and energy storage capabilities of MFCs. Experimental results demonstrated that the MFC with the modified anode achieved a maximum power density of 7902.4 mW/m3. Moreover, in the charging–discharging test, the stored electricity of the S/CNT/PANI/CS anode was 16.38 times that of the S/CNT anode when both the charging and discharging times were 30 min. High-throughput sequencing revealed that the modified composite anode exhibited remarkable biocompatibility and selective enrichment of electrogenic bacteria. Overall, this study presents a novel approach for developing composite MFC anode materials with energy storage functionality.

Boosting power output in microbial fuel cells with sunlight-assisted natural hematite anode for enhanced wastewater treatment

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) hold currently great potential in energy generation and environmental remediation. The utilization of semiconducting minerals to efficiently harvest solar energy is a crucial approach for enhancing the MFC performance. Along these lines, in this work, a sunlight-assisted two-chambered MFC with hematite modified anode was developed. The hematite anode MFC exhibited maximum voltage output (85.2 ± 4.5 mV) and power density (5.2 W/m2) under light illumination conditions, which were 1.76 times and 1.63 times higher than that in dark conditions, respectively. From the acquired electrochemical results, it was demonstrated that hematite cooperative microorganisms exhibited higher current density (6.8 μA/cm2) and lower polarization resistance (77.2 Ω) under light condition, suggesting that the sunlight-assisted hematite anode facilitates the rapid electron transfer and significantly reduces the polarization loss. Furthermore, the removal percent of NO3− and Cr(Ⅵ) in hematite anode MFC were 95.50 % and 66.67 % under irradiation conditions, respectively, which were 1.3 times and 1.5 times higher than that in dark conditions. Our work provides valuable insights for harnessing solar energy through a hematite-modified anode, which holds promise for enhancing MFC performance and wastewater treatment.

Exogenous electric field as a biochemical driving factor for extracellular electron transfer: Increasing power output of microbial fuel cell

Although microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising avenue for clean power production, they are hindered by inefficient extracellular electron transfer (EET), thereby resulting in a low power output. This study focused on augmenting MFC power by boosting the EET rate using an exogenous electric field (EEF). By leveraging the dual benefits of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) in organic waste treatment and energy recovery, we developed an MFC–MEC system that utilizes the EEF from MEC as a connecting link. Two configurations, EEF in the same direction (SD-MFC–MEC) and EEF in the reverse direction (RD-MFC–MEC), were used to examine the EET kinetic rate at the MFC anode in the EEF environment using various electrochemical methods for quantitative evaluation. Our findings revealed that EEF significantly enhanced MFC anode biofilm formation and electrochemical activity, leading to a prominent improvement in electrode reaction rates. The EET rate constants in the SD-MFC–MEC and RD-MFC–MEC were more than double those in the control R-MFC, with power density increases of 117.8% and 108.4%, respectively. The formation of electrochemically active sites within the biofilm induced by EEF has emerged as a crucial factor in amplifying the EET rate, and consequently, the MFC power output. Additionally, the variation in EET rate constants between the SD-MFC–MEC and RD-MFC–MEC was minimal, thereby indicating the negligible impact of the EEF orientation on the EET efficiency. This study provides a novel method for quantitatively examining EET rates, opens up new avenues for further facilitating microbe-to-electrode electron transfer, and promotes the application of MFC–MEC systems in energy recovery, CO2 emission reduction, and waste treatment.