Microbial Fuel Cell System Research Articles

Enhanced methane and energy generation from sewage water using microbial fuel cells with paddy field soil substrate

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have potential in wastewater treatment, biogas production and clean energy generation. MFCs provide an interdisciplinary research approach incorporating engineering and natural sciences. This study explores MFCs’ capabilities to produce electricity and biogas from wastewater and field soil substrates with different compositions. A two-chamber MFC system was operated anaerobically. Household sewage water used as the organic substrate with different soil amounts. Six different process feed compositions, labeled MFC-1–6, were investigated. MFC-1 exhibited the highest biogas generation volume of 245 cm³ and 42 mW/cm² power density. MFC-5 and −6 yielded 100 cm³ and 130 cm³, respectively. Wastewater treatment was effective on day 20, with pH, conductivity, turbidity, and total dissolved solids decreased to 7.3, 2.6 mS, 326 NTUs, and 1114 mg/L, respectively. Since, MFC-1 autonomously generated −800 mV, an external battery supplied an additional 600 mV to meet the methane generation voltage requirements. MFCs’ effectiveness in addressing wastewater treatment and renewable energy production was highlighted.

A Novel Algal–Algal Microbial Fuel Cell for Enhanced Chemical Oxygen Demand Removal

To enhance the removal of COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) by microalgae, this study constructed a novel microalgae–microalgae microbial fuel cell system (AA-MFC). It investigated the coupling relationship between the COD treatment efficiency at the anode and the production of high-value microalgal products at the cathode, as well as explored the effects of different initial inoculum densities and light–dark cycles. The experiment first measured the operational performance of the newly constructed AA-MFC in open-circuit and closed-circuit modes, demonstrating that this novel AA-MFC could start up rapidly within 32 h and operate stably. The results showed that the AA-MFC enhanced the removal of COD and the growth of microalgae biomass at the anode while maintaining stable power generation. When the initial inoculation density of the anode was 1.2 × 108 cell/cm2 and the light–dark cycle time was 18:6 h, the AA-MFC had the most obvious promoting effect on the COD removal of the anode. Compared with normal culture conditions, the COD removal rate increased by 26.0% to 96.1%. These results indicate that the AA-MFC can not only effectively remove pollutants, but also promote the accumulation of high-value microalgae biomass.

The bio-cathode of microbial fuel cells systems: Performance analysis under different microbial community conditions

This study aims to investigate the conversion of different microbial community compositions in the cathode chamber in a dual-chamber bioelectrochemical system. A denitrifying bacterial community, or sludge, was enriched for denitrification by microbial consortia and subsequently acclimatized within the cathodic chamber of microbial fuel cells, either within a mixed microbial community sludge microbial fuel cell (M-MFC) or a pure culture of microorganisms in a microbial fuel cell (P-MFC). The bioelectrochemical systems were treated with different nitrate concentrations in the cathodic chamber: the MFC with low concentration nitrate (MFC1, 25 mg/L nitrate; MFC2 50 mg/L nitrate), the MFC with medium concentration nitrate(MFC3, 75 mg/L nitrate; MFC4 100 mg/L nitrate), and MFC with high concentration nitrate (MFC5, 125 mg/L nitrate; MFC6 150 mg/L nitrate; MFC7 175 mg/L nitrate), and the initial COD in the anodic chamber was based on demand(C to N ratio is 5). M-MFC exhibited better-electrogenerated capability than P-MFC. However, P-MFC exhibited better nitrogen removal performance compared to M-MFC. The best performance was attained by both types of MFCs when the nitrate content was 100 mg/L. The maximum output voltages in M-MFC4 and P-MFC4 were 449 mV and 171 mV, respectively. The average conversion rate of M-MFC4 and P-MFC4 were 2.9 mg*L−1 *h−1 and 10.5 mg*L−1 *h−1, respectively. The analysis of the microbial community of two treated MFCs in the cathode chamber in the optimal state indicated that non-electrode denitrification predominantly occurs in P-MFC. The cathode chambers were mostly populated by denitrifying microorganisms. The dominant species in M-MFC were Azonexus, Zoogloea, Ignavibacterium, and Pirellula, and the dominant species in P-MFC were Comamonas, Aeromonas, and Acidovorax. The species was assessed by qPCR analysis, and the results validated the use of a bacterial consortium for domestication as a more suitable method to improve the stability and performance of the MFCs.

N/NiO-ornated graphitic fiber-engrained micro-carbon beads: Innovative packed bed type capacitive electrodes for microbial fuel cells

Nitrogen-doped nickel oxide-catalyzed carbon nanofiber-decorated micro-activated carbon beads (NiO-N-CNF/ACB) were synthesized through suspension polymerization and employed as capacitive fixed-packed bed electrodes in microbial fuel cell (MFC-) for wastewater treatment and byproduct electricity generation. The capacitive electrode was meticulously designed to manifest enhanced characteristics crucial for MFC applications. The large specific surface area of NiO-N-CNF/ACB offers advantages in terms of catalytic sites and stored charge produced by electrogenic bacteria to form an electrochemical double-layer on the electrode, thereby enhancing power generation. The incorporation of NiO, coupled with graphitic contents, biocompatibility, and the formation of three-dimensional structures, contributes to the excellent performance of the NiO-N-CNF/ACB electrodes. The NiO-N-CNF/ACB electrodes-based MFC operated in batch mode demonstrated an open-circuit potential of 0.8 V, an impressive maximum power density of 2900 mW/m3, and a noteworthy 74 % reduction in chemical oxygen demand. Additionally, the synthesized NiO-N-CNF/ACB exhibited a remarkable specific capacitance 754 F/g and a cumulative total charge of 255 C/g, surpassing the corresponding values for plain NiO-ACB and ACB. This study positions NiO-N-CNF/ACB as a promising capacitive packed bed electrode material, offering enhanced power generation, efficient wastewater treatment, and superior biofilm formation, thereby advancing the potential for sustainable and efficient MFC systems.

Insights into the efficient electricity production performance using acid-treated straw in MFCs

In this study, a mixed electrogenic culture (RS) was successfully enriched from cow rumen fluid which produced a maximum current density of 634 ± 58 μA cm−2 using carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) as the substrate in a three-electrode system. Furthermore, in the microbial fuel cells (MFCs) system, RS as the inoculum was able to generate electricity using treated corn straw instead of CMC as substrates. Power densities of 550 ± 25 mW m−2 from the alkali-treated straw, 842 ± 35 mW m−2 from neutral-treated straw, and 1377 ± 20 mW m−2 from acid-treated straw for RS were obtained with RS, respectively, which are all much higher than that of 110 ± 15 mW m−2 using untreated straw as the substrate. It can be found that the electricity generation performance of RS in MFCs using straw treated by different methods varied significantly. Among them, the power density using acid-treated straw was 1.64 and 2.50 times higher than that using neutral-treated and alkali-treated straw, respectively. Meanwhile, the power density of RS using acid-treated straw was 1.36 times and 1.58 times higher than that of RS using CMC and that of G. sulfurreducens PCA using small molecule acetic acid as the substrate, respectively. Microbial community composition analysis of the RS enriched using differently treated straw revealed that the relative abundances of 47.1 % for Geobacter and 14.7 % for Wolinella were dominant in the acid-treated straw RS by comparison of 1.9 %, 11.3 % and 14.0 %, 4.2 % for RS using alkali-treated and neutral-treated straw, respectively. In addition, the metabolite analysis of RS during electricity generation revealed that the RS enriched from acid-treated straw contained a higher amount of acetic acid (9.3 ± 0.4 mmol/L) as the carbon source for electrochemically active bacteria (EAB), such as G. sulfurreducens PCA, which was higher than the values of 4.3 ± 0.4 mmol/L (alkali-treated) and 0.34 ± 0.04 mmol/L (neutral-treated) straw. Therefore, these results implied that the degraded organic matters in the acid-treated straw contains more acetic acid, which is accessible to RS, enabling higher electricity production by enriching more efficient EAB. It can be seen that the acid-treated method for straw can effectively degrade the straw to low molecules (more acetic acid) which will improve the microbial community composition to produce higher electricity current. This study offers a promising practical method for recovery energy using straw in MFCs system in the future.

Performance and biotoxicity of electro-Fenton treatment of bisphenol A: Evaluation of copper recovered from microbial fuel cell cathodes for subsequent catalytic applications

A three-tank microbial fuel cell (MFC) is successfully constructed to achieve electromigration and is used in the electro-Fenton process to treat bisphenol A (BPA). The MFC system exhibits excellent mobility and efficiently aggregates Cu+ to the cathode. Under optimal operating conditions, the MFC achieves a maximum power density of 31.4 mW/m2, which is a 3.4-fold increase over that at 0.5 kΩ. Increasing the external resistance increased the MFC power output (ca 1.5 times) and copper ion migration (ca 4.6 times) while reducing the internal resistance of the system (ca 25.3 %). Surface analysis of the cathode carbon cloth shows a 5.5-fold increase in copper content at 1 kΩ over that at 0.5 kΩ. This also increases the oxygen reduction reaction rate, thereby increasing the H2O2 yield by 1.5 times. The recovered copper cathode at 1 kΩ exhibits the best catalytic degradation of BPA, removing 99.7 % of BPA in 180 min, increasing 1.4 and 1.8 times that obtained at 1.5 and 0.5 kΩ, respectively. The optimal operating conditions significantly increased the abundance of electrochemically active bacteria (Azospirillaceae) (3.2 %−41.7 %), indicating that the optimized MFC is favorable for the rapid acclimatization of electrochemically active bacteria.

Multilayered photo-bioanode for simultaneous conversion of CO2 and industrial refractory organics into bioelectricity in a microbial fuel cell system

CO2 and toxic wastewater were converted into bioelectricity through photo-bioanode in a microbial fuel cell (MFCs). Photo-bioanode provided multifunctional regions due to four distinct layers: the first layer integrates a Fe-doped graphitic carbon nitride photocatalyst. In contrast, the second layer contains refractory organics (RO) degrading microbes. Sequentially, the third layer consists of CO2-consuming bacteria and the fourth layer accommodates exoelectrogens. The first layer not only generated plentiful electrons upon illumination but also quenched electrons from the inner layers, facilitating the degradation of RO. The second layer transformed RO into ions (NH4, NO3/NO2) and C6H12O6, sequentially transported into the third and fourth layers. Within the third layer, CO2-consuming bacteria utilized CO2 leaked from the exoelectrogenic layer, effectively curbing its accumulation in the fourth layer. Here, exoelectrogens employed ions and C6H12O6 as their energy source, producing an electricity output 1.4 times greater than the benchmark. This synergistic performance yielded a voltage of 2.5 V, a current of 2.8A, and a power yield of 1.98 W/organic loading rate (OLR). Thus, the unique layered structure of the photo-bioanode facilitated the self-development of distinct microbial communities, thereby formulating a multifunctional and highly dynamic system with zero-liquid discharge.

Effects of aeration coupled with microbial fuel cell on nitrogen removal and electricity production for biogas slurry

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can be used as a potential technology for degradation of organic contaminant. In order to improve the efficiency of MFC treating the biogas slurry (BS), a comparison between the pretreatments of aerobic static culture and aeration was studied. The nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and electricity production capacity of BS-MFC was investigated. The results showed that the total degradation rate of NH4+-N in BS after the aeration coupled with MFC treatment reached 95.70 %, which was 12.97 % higher than that of the aerobically statically cultivated BS. The coulombic efficiency (CE) of the aeration-treated BS participating the reaction in MFC was always higher than that of the aerobically cultivated group. The relative abundance of Chloroflexi, which plays an important role in nitrogen metabolism, accounted for a smaller proportion in the MFC reaction effluent after aeration treatment. While, the denitrification bacteria Patescibacteria was slightly enhanced. The aeration-treated BS also stimulated the growth of electrochemically active microorganisms Gammaproteobacteria in the MFC system. The results of this study showed that pretreatment of the BS with aeration was more favorable to improve the efficiency of the BS-MFC, which provided informative suggestions for the improvement of MFC.

Enhancing the efficiency of medium-scale dual-chamber microbial fuel cell systems through the utilization of novel electrodes material and proper selection of catholyte and external resistance

Dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (DC-MFC) are devices that can be used to generate electricity through the degradation of substrates. In this study, the performance of DC-MFC with novel electrode materials is evaluated under different external resistance using a hydrochloric acid solution as catholyte. Hydrophilic-treated graphene was used as the electrode material, DuPontTM Nafion 117 was used as the proton exchange membrane and domestic wastewater served as the substrate. The maximum power density achieved was 32.05 mW⋅m−2, obtained by degrading 69.8% of organic matter when an external resistance of 100 Ω was used as electrical load. This power density was 32 times higher than the power density obtained in the control (1.01 mW⋅m−2). This result obtained was similar to those reported in the literature for small-scale DC-MFC systems. And, contrary to the reported trend that as the scale of MFCs increase, the efficiency decreases. It can be stipulated with these results that is possible to scale up DC-MFC to medium-scale systems without loss performance quality by selecting the appropriate external resistance, catholyte and electrode materials.

Self-Aerated Osmotic Microbial Fuel Cell System Based on Siphon Principle: Performance Investigation and Application Significance

Self-Aerated Osmotic Microbial Fuel Cell System Based on Siphon Principle: Performance Investigation and Application Significance

EXPLORING FACTORS AFFECTING NITROGEN ISOLATION BY CATION EXCHANGE MEMBRANE AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR MICROBIAL FUEL CELL PERFORMANCE IN WASTEWATER TREATMENT

This study explores the utilization of a cation exchange membrane (CEM) in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system to isolate nitrogen from wastewater influents. While employing a CEM in an MFC system has drawbacks, such as increased internal resistance and reduced power output, it also provides a means for optimal energy recovery from organics while allowing isolated nitrogen to be treated in subsequent steps. This study evaluated the diffusion of ammonium through CEM in a dual-chamber MFC under different operating conditions. Results indicated that the MFC reactor with CEM as a separator isolated 88-93% of the nitrogen input, demonstrating the feasibility of this approach for nitrogen separation in wastewater treatment applications. Factors affecting nitrogen isolation, including COD input at the anode, dissolved oxygen (DO) at the cathode, and external resistance (ER), are identified. Higher COD input at the anode and the DO at the cathode were found to enhance nitrogen separation, while increased ER had an adverse effect on nitrogen isolation capacity. Additionally, changes in the surface characteristics of the CEM during operation could impact nitrogen isolation, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and maintenance of the CEM to ensure consistent performance over time. In conclusion, this study highlighted the potential of using a CEM in MFC systems for nitrogen isolation, provided insights into the factors affecting the efficacy of nitrogen separation, and underscored the need for monitoring and maintenance of the CEM. These results could significantly impact the development of more efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment using the MFC system.

Treatment of nitrogenous wastewater by constructed wetland coupled microbial fuel cell system: a review

ABSTRACT As global industrialization accelerates, the treatment of nitrogenous wastewater has become a pressing environmental challenge. In response to this challenge, this study explores the potential of constructed wetland coupled microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) technology for the treatment of nitrogenous wastewater. It systematically presents the fundamental principles and characteristics of the CW-MFC, analyzing the metabolic processes and denitrification mechanisms of nitrogen pollutants within the system. This research not only summarizes the key factors that influence the denitrification performance of the CW-MFC system but also discusses its future development trends and potential applications. The objective is to refine the field of nitrogenous wastewater treatment using CW-MFC, enhancing the denitrification efficiency, and to provide a foundation for further advancing the practical application and scientific research of this technology.

Boron-doped reduced graphene oxide as an efficient cathode in microbial fuel cells for biological toxicity detection

Electrodes with superior stability and sensitivity are highly desirable in advancing the toxicity detection efficiency of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Herein, boron-doped reduced graphene oxide (B-rGO) was synthesized and utilized as an efficient cathode candidate in an MFCs system for sensitive sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) detection. Boron doping introduces additional defects and improves the dispersibility and oxygen permeability, thereby enhancing the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency. The B-rGO-based cathode has demonstrated significantly improved output voltage and power density, marking improvements of 75 % and 58 % over their undoped counterparts, respectively. Furthermore, it also exhibited remarkable linear sensitivity to SDBS concentrations across a broad range (0.2–15 mg/L). Notably, the cathode maintained excellent stability within the test range and showed significant reversibility for SDBS concentrations between 0.2 and 3 mg/L. The highly sensitive and stable B-rGO-based cathode is inspiring for developing more practical and cost-effective toxicant sensing devices.

Development of a 3D-printed spongy electrode design for microbial fuel cell (MFC) using gyroid lattice

Microbial fuel cell technology addresses both issues in finding new ways to clean water systems while harnessing electricity. Several studies suggest that a single large-scale MFC is proven to be inefficient and expensive. Therefore, producing small-scale MFCs is focused on investigation to provide an efficient system and cost-effective approach. This study used 3D-printed MFCs using a spongy electrode design to produce a modern approach to modifying electrode capacity in energy generation. Furthermore, the study identifies the electrical conductivity of the spongy electrode by determining the voltage generated and power density by stacked MFCs in series, parallel, and hybrid configurations. The MFCs generate a maximum voltage of 633 mV and a current of 14.22 . One way to reduce the effects of voltage reversal in the MFC system is the application of hybrid connection circuits. Parallel-series hybrid connection possesses stable voltage generation of 250−300 𝑚𝑉 with the highest current generation of 115.20 𝜇𝐴. At the same time, the Series-Parallel Connection generates the highest voltage and current of 259 mV and 30 , respectively. The spongy electrode design and hybrid connection produced a maximum power and current density of 29.30 μW⁄m2 and 279.41 μA⁄m2 obtained from a different connection of pure parallel and 28P-2S hybrid connection. Furthermore, water quality parameters were examined (pH, TDS, ORP, and COD), that the MFCs design is efficient in wastewater treatment, with a %COD removal of 95.24% efficiency, reduced ORP from +48.00 mV to -7.00 mV, and the TDS concentration from 270 ppm to 239 ppm.

Shewanella baltica in a Microbial Fuel Cell for Sensing of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Wastewater

Geobacter and Shewanella are the most characterized electroactive bacteria genera. Unlike genus Geobacter that is strictly anaerobic, Shewanella can grow under both oxic and anoxic environments and is capable of metabolizing a wider substrate range. In the present study, the use of strain Shewanella baltica 20 in MFC-based biosensor for BOD monitoring is reported. The S. baltica strain 20 was isolated from river sediment in Hungary. The bacterium could form a biofilm, oxidized glucose, and transferred electrons to produce current when they were enriched on the anode in an air cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The tested MFC system demonstrated linearity in the current response to glucose from 50 to 300 mg/L. The electrical efficiency was determined from the polarization curve using the method of Varying Circuit Resistance (VCR) with an external load probed from 10 Ω to 220 kΩ. The maximum power production was 1.2 mW/m2 at an external load of 40 kΩ. Studying the effect of external resistors on the MFC performance showed that the MFC reached higher saturation for 500 mg/L of glucose at lower resistances of 100 and 470 Ω, in comparison to 300 mg/L at 1000 Ω. The results show that the response of the MFC can potentially be tuned by adjusting the external load. Our preliminary study suggests that Shewanella baltica strain 20 may be used for online monitoring of BOD (biological oxygen demand) in wastewater.

Packing blockage and power generation of constructed wetland coupled microbial fuel cell systems using biochar as electrode and filler with different ratios

This article investigated the electrochemical performance, water purification capacity and packing clogging of constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells coupled reactors (CW-MFCs). The CW-MFCs-B (B = 100 % biochar filler) reactor performed the best under intermittent conditions, with a power density of up to 33.7 mW/m2. Regarding TOC removal, CW-MFCs-G (G = no biochar filler) was the least effective when the system was in continuous flow. The effect of the other two reactors with biochar filler addition (BG = 50 % and B = 100 %) was similar, indicating that the biochar functioned well as the CW filler to remove organic matter. Regarding NH4+-N removal, removal rates varied at different HRTs: HRT = 2 days > intermittent flow > HRT = 0.5 days. Among them, CW-MFCs-B was the most effective, with a maximum of 65.10 %. The clogging index Φb of the three reactors were 2.83 (B), 1.77 (BG), and 0.72 (G). The CW-MFCs-B reactor showed good effluent treatment and had the best electricity production but the most severe clogging. There may be a certain connection between H2O2 concentration and the degree of CW clogging. CW-MFC with biochar electrode and gravel filler may be suitable for long-term operation.

MFC Performance with Additional Micronutrients in Food Waste Substrate

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) are the one of utilization of waste for renewable energy continues to be developed. According to the FAO, 32% of all food for human consumption is discarded about 1.3 billion tonnes per year. In this study, Microbial Fuel Cells used an organic source in the form of food waste that had been hydrolyzed by Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Candida rugosa. The results of the hydrolysis are entered into the MFC system. In the MFC system it is mixed with Sidoarjo mud and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, then put into a Single Chamber microbial fuel cell (SC-MFC) to generate electricity. In this research, also added micronutrients (Mg2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Pb2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Cr2+, and Zn2+) to increase the metabolic of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 bacteria, so can elevate electric currents. electrons and protons are produced by microorganisms by changing organic compounds in the substrate. The results showed that the best power density was 6.652 W/m2 with BOD 89.362% and COD removal 77.273% achieved with a ratio of food waste to water of 2:1 M. Food hydrolysis is capable of hydrolyzing 40% food waste into glucose within 24 hours. The greatest percentage of glucose decreased was achieved by Cobalt micronutrient addition with 77% of glucose decreased. Therefore, MFC can be greatly enhance food waste degradation to become a carbon source in a microbial fuel cell for electricity production.

Employing the Cost-effective Composite Cathodes for Bio-Fenton facilitated degradation of Acid Red 114 integrated into Hydrogen Peroxide Synthesizing Microbial Fuel Cell

The foremost obstacle in scale up application of Bioelectro-Fenton dye wastewater treatment process is high cost of cathode material. The study proposes a low-cost activated carbon/stainless steel (AC/SS) and Graphite powder/stainless steel (GP/SS) composite cathodes, where SS allocates the current, while AC/GP concurrently supports Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production. Composite AC/SS and GP/SS cathode enabled Acid Red 114 (AR 114) oxidative removal by means of bio-electro-Fenton in microbial fuel cell (MFC) is also investigated. Characterized by different microscopic, spectroscopic, and electrochemical techniques, it is observed that the composite AC/SS and GP/SS cathodes may well be fabricated and involve in H2O2 and power generation of 1420 µM /2680 µM and 4000 mWm−3/4050 mWm−3 respectively. The results also disclose that the MFC system efficiency is crucially associated to operating conditions involving initial AR 114 concentration (20 mg/L), catholyte pH (3), different catholytes, their concentration (75 mM), and Fe2+ dosage (0.5 mM). All investigated conditions are observed to impact the degradation efficiency and apparent first order rate constant for AR 114. The corresponding rate constants and efficiency for the degradation for both cathodes are 0.13 h−1/ 0.08 h−1 and 96%/90%, respectively. The outcomes validate these fabricated cathodes as sustainable substitute of expensive and complex material.

Enhancement of nitrate reduction in microbial fuel cells by acclimating biocathode potential: Performance, microbial community, and mechanism

The enhancement of nitrate reduction in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by acclimating biocathode potential was studied. An MFC system was started up, and measured by cyclic voltammetry to determine a suitable potential region for acclimating biocathode. The experimental results revealed that potential acclimation could efficiently improve denitrification performance by relieving the phenomenon of nitrite accumulation, and optimum performance was obtained at −0.4 V with a total nitrogen removal efficiency of 87.4 %. Subsequently, the characteristics of electron transfer behaviors were measured, suggesting that a positive correlation between nitrate reduction and the contribution of direct electron transfer emerged. Furthermore, a denitrification mechanism was proposed. The results indicated that potential acclimation was conducive to enhancing denitrifying enzyme activity and that the electron transport system activity could be increased by 5.8 times. This study provides insight into the electron transfer characteristics and denitrification mechanisms in MFCs for nitrate reduction at specific acclimatization potentials.

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.