Platinum-free, graphene based anodes and air cathodes for single chamber microbial fuel cells
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Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) exploit the ability of microorganisms to generate electrical power during metabolism of substrates. However, the low efficiency of extracellular electron transfer from cells to the anode and the use of expensive rare metals as catalysts, such as platinum, limit their application and scalability. In this study we investigate the use of pristine graphene based electrodes at both the anode and the cathode of a MFC for efficient electrical energy production from the metabolically versatile bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009. We achieve a volumetric peak power output (PV) of up to 3.51 ± 0.50 W m-3 using graphene based aerogel anodes with a surface area of 8.2 m2 g-1. We demonstrate that enhanced MFC output arises from the interplay of the improved surface area, enhanced conductivity, and catalytic surface groups of the graphene based electrode. In addition, we show a 500-fold increase in PV to 1.3 ± 0.23 W m-3 when using a graphene coated stainless steel (SS) air cathode, compared to an uncoated SS cathode, demonstrating the feasibility of a platinum-free, graphene catalysed MFCs. Finally, we show a direct application for microwatt-consuming electronics by connecting several of these coin sized devices in series to power a digital clock.
Date Issued
2017-12-07
Date Acceptance
2017-10-30
Citation
Journal of Materials Chemistry A, 2017, 5 (45), pp.23872-23886
ISSN
2050-7496
Publisher
Royal Society of Chemistry
Start Page
23872
End Page
23886
Journal / Book Title
Journal of Materials Chemistry A
Volume
5
Issue
45
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Authors. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/).
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29456857
Subjects
Science & Technology
Physical Sciences
Technology
Chemistry, Physical
Energy & Fuels
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Chemistry
Materials Science
NITROGEN-DOPED GRAPHENE
EXTRACELLULAR ELECTRON-TRANSFER
LIQUID-PHASE EXFOLIATION
WASTE-WATER TREATMENT
RAMAN-SPECTROSCOPY
OXYGEN REDUCTION
PERFORMANCE
GRAPHITE
CATALYST
AEROGELS
Publication Status
Published
Date Publish Online
2017-11-02