Applications of Graphene-Modified Electrodes in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Graphene-modified materials have captured increasing attention for energy applications due to their superior physical and chemical properties, which can significantly enhance the electricity generation performance of microbial fuel cells (MFC). In this review, several typical synthesis methods of graphene-modified electrodes, such as graphite oxide reduction methods, self-assembly methods, and chemical vapor deposition, are summarized. According to the different functions of the graphene-modified materials in the MFC anode and cathode chambers, a series of design concepts for MFC electrodes are assembled, e.g., enhancing the biocompatibility and improving the extracellular electron transfer efficiency for anode electrodes and increasing the active sites and strengthening the reduction pathway for cathode electrodes. In spite of the challenges of MFC electrodes, graphene-modified electrodes are promising for MFC development to address the reduction in efficiency brought about by organic waste by converting it into electrical energy.

Surface modification of carbon cloth anodes for microbial fuel cells using atmospheric-pressure plasma jet processed reduced graphene oxides

“…[7][8][9][10][11][12][13] Recently, graphene has been widely used for the surface modication of carbonaceous electrodes because of its good biocompatibility, large specic surface area for accommodating microbes, high electronic conductivity, and efficient electron transfer between bacteria and the electrode surface. 14,15 However, monolayer graphene sheets normally agglomerate or form multilayer graphite owing to the strong p-p stacking. 15 Graphene oxide (GO) is a derivative of graphene that possesses abundant epoxy and hydroxyl functional groups on the basal planes and carbonyl and carboxyl groups on the sheet edges.…”

Catalyst Development of Microbial Fuel Cells for Renewable-Energy Production

“…Since its discovery in 2004, graphene has been attracting much attention for its use as an electrode because of its high specific surface area, electrical conductivity, and biocompatibility [32]. In fact, graphene has been already used in lithium-ion batteries, and the development of graphenemodified materials to increase the power density has progressed actively [33,34]. Moreover, since biofilm formation by microorganisms on the electrodes affects the performance of MFCs, the preference of electrode materials tends to shift from two-dimensional to three-dimensional surfaces, where a larger surface area is obtained; thus, the contact with microorganisms increases.…”

“…In parallel with the improvement of microbial catalysts, the development of the fuel cell system, including the electrodes, was intensively studied to increase the output of MFCs. In particular, the application of graphene-modified electrodes [33] and the investigation of electron acceptors [43] have shown remarkable progress in the past decade. In order to actualize the practical use of MFCs, a synergistic impact from the combination of microbial catalyst and fuel cell system is essential.…”

Cost-Effective Surface Modification of Carbon Cloth Electrodes for Microbial Fuel Cells by Candle Soot Coating

“…However, there are still some challenges that need to be resolved in the practical applications of MFCs, including low power generation, the cost of anode materials for large-scale applications, system development, and energy recovery [6,7]. Furthermore, the low extracellular electron transfer efficiency between the microorganism and the electrode is the main bottleneck limiting the practical applications of MFCs [8]. Therefore, it is important to improve electrode properties by a surface treatment to enhance the extracellular electron transfer efficiency at the anode.…”