Graphene-modified electrodes for enhancing the performance of microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Graphene is an emerging material with superior physical and chemical properties, which can benefit the development of microbial fuel cells (MFC) in several aspects. Graphene-based anodes can enhance MFC performance with increased electron transfer efficiency, higher specific surface area and more active microbe-electrode-electrolyte interaction. For cathodic processes, oxygen reduction reaction is effectively catalyzed by graphene-based materials because of a favorable pathway and an increase in active sites and conductivity. Despite challenges, such as complexity in synthesis and property degeneration, graphene-based electrodes will be promising for developing MFCs and other bioelectrochemical systems to achieve sustainable water/wastewater treatment and bioenergy production.

Fabrication of polyaniline/graphene oxide composite for graphite felt electrode modification and its performance in the bioelectrochemical system

“…Currently, graphene (GE) and graphene-base materials have drawn much attention in electrode and supercapacitor applications due to their impressive mechanical and electrochemical properties [12][13][14]. Importantly, graphene oxide (GO), as the most familiar graphene-base material, can be made in large quantities with less cost than GE or carbon nanotubes (CNTs) via chemical method [15].…”

Graphene-based electrode materials for microbial fuel cells

“…4d), which was around 1.2 times higher than that achieved in Pt/C-MFC under identical conditions (19.3 A m −3 ) [14,52]. However, the conductivity of regular NG was measured to be 35 S m −1 , which was still 10 S m −1 lower than Pt/C [4,50]. Therefore, it is of crucial importance to maximize the conductivity of graphene cathodes in practical applications.…”

“…Besides this, a desirable anode material should be biocompat-ible so that bacteria introduced into the system will form a biofilm on the anode, while a favorable cathode material should have a highly electrocatalytic activity toward oxidants (e.g., oxygen) reduction reaction. However, high cost of cathode catalysts and low charge transfer efficiency of electrodes restrict the development of MFC technology [4].…”

Design of Iron(II) Phthalocyanine‐Derived Oxygen Reduction Electrocatalysts for High‐Power‐Density Microbial Fuel Cells

“…Since this pioneering study, activated carbon has been used frequently as a cathode catalyst in different types of MFCs 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. It should be noted that other carbonaceous materials such as carbon nanotubes,32 activated carbon fibers,33 modified carbon black,34 and graphene35, 36, 37, 38 were also studied as cathode catalysts in MFCs. On the other hand, systematic research into carbonderived cathodes revealed intrinsic low ORR activities, high overpotentials, and low power generation.…”