Photosynthetic Solar Cell Using Nanostructured Proton Exchange Membrane for Microbial Biofilm Prevention

Abstract

Unwanted biofilm formation has a detrimental effect on bioelectrical energy harvesting in microbial cells. This issue still needs to be solved for higher power and longer durability and could be resolved with the help of nanoengineering in designing and manufacturing. Here, we demonstrate a photosynthetic solar cell (PSC) that contains a nanostructure to prevent the formation of biofilm by micro-organisms. Nanostructures were fabricated using nanoimprint lithography, where a film heater array system was introduced to precisely control the local wall temperature. To understand the heat and mass transfer phenomena behind the manufacturing and energy harvesting processes of PSC, we carried out a numerical simulation and experimental measurements. It revealed that the nanostructures developed on the proton exchange membrane enable PSC to produce enhanced output power due to the retarded microbial attachment on the Nafion membrane. We anticipate that this strategy can provide a pathway where PSC can ensure more renewable, sustainable, and efficient energy harvesting performance.

Microfluidic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy of Carbon Composite Nanofluids

“…The electric field was calculated using the following equations: where E indicates the electric field, V is the electric potential, D is the dielectric displacement, and ρ v is the external charge. The parameter values used were taken from the related literature, and a finite element method was used to solve the equations 38 .…”

Nanostructure engineering in organic semiconductor devices toward interface matching

“…Owing to the need for lightweight and compact integration of electronic devices, nanoscale electronic devices have gained considerable interest due to their physical, chemical, optical, mechanical, and thermal properties at scales that differ from those of bulk materials [1][2][3][4][5]. In particular, nanostructure arrays can effectively increase the energy transfer owing to gradual changes in the impedance at the interface between individual media [6][7][8][9]. The existing nanosurface of the moth-eye, the key to optical impedance matching, improves light transmittance by directing incident light onto a pattern.…”

Carbon Nanotube Embedded Nanostructure for Biometrics

“…Nanopattern array − is an effective structure to increase energy transfer due to gradual change in impedance at the interface between discrete media. On the nanosurface of moths’ eyes, optical impedance matching, i.e., refractive index matching, is a key mechanism to enhance light transmittance by directing rays toward patterns. − The nanopattern/air coexisting region at the interface between air and the substrate acts as a gradually changing refractive index layer (GRIN layer) …”