Microbial fuel cells come of age

Autonomous ultra-low power DC/DC converter for Microbial Fuel Cells

“…Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) produce electrical energy from organic matter through the action of bacteria [10]. Domestic wastewater can advantageously be used as a fuel, while the process advantageously permits its treatment at the same time.…”

Sediment microbial fuel cells as a new source of renewable and sustainable energy: present status and future prospects

“…As can be seen in 21 Fig.1, most of the energy consumption in the world in 2012 was non-renewable energy. So the researchers in the world are working to find new 13 energy platform to sufficient energy without CO 2 emissions and greenhouses problems 5, 6 . Although energy source is 1 shifted from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, oil and gas still are the major 2 primary energy sources to power the world's industries.…”

Novel Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Sensors and Biosensors

“…Nevertheless, and despite all the advantages, the most challenging hindrance for further expanding the applicability of MFCs in A key factor for the MFC energetic efficiency is a suitable feedstock, either organic or inorganic, for which extensive research has been implemented [16,32,90]. Nevertheless, and despite all the advantages, the most challenging hindrance for further expanding the applicability of MFCs in sensors are the low power outputs intrinsically associated with them, along with unstable electric potentials generated below the working potential of conventional electronic components in sensors [53]. Accordingly, regardless of the feedstock employed, working principles of MFCs as energy sources, as well as power requirements and detailed performance of power management systems for remote sensors, have been investigated in order to provide rational solutions to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of MFCs [32,51,52,54].…”

“…Moreover, DC/DC converters have been successfully employed to increase and stabilize the electric potentials of MFCs, as schematically illustrated in Figure 4. sensors are the low power outputs intrinsically associated with them, along with unstable electric potentials generated below the working potential of conventional electronic components in sensors [53]. Accordingly, regardless of the feedstock employed, working principles of MFCs as energy sources, as well as power requirements and detailed performance of power management systems for remote sensors, have been investigated in order to provide rational solutions to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks of MFCs [32,51,52,54].…”