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This study demonstrates carbon quantum dots (C-dots) synthesized from coconut husk as effective electron shuttles in microbial fuel cell anodes. C-dots possess surface hydroxyl and carboxyl groups enabling electron transfer. DREAM assay confirmed 172% enhancement in electron transfer activity with C-dots. MFC experiments showed 22.5% improvement in maximum power density (126 mW/m²) compared to control, outperforming methylene blue (6% improvement) and achieving 40% enhancement when combined with methylene blue.

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What they did

System
MFC

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Abstract

Electrodes based on graphite, graphene, and carbon nanomaterials have been used in the anode chamber of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Carbon quantum dots (C-dots) are a class of versatile nanomaterials hitherto not reported in MFCs. C-dots previously synthesized from coconut husk were reported to possess hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups on their surface. The presence of these functional groups on a carbon matrix conferred on the C-dots the ability to conduct and transfer electrons. Formation of silver nanoparticles from silver nitrate upon addition of C-dots confirmed their reducing ability. DREAM assay using a mixed microbial culture containing C-dots showed a 172% increase in electron transfer activity and thus confirmed the involvement of C-dots in supplementing redox activity of a microbial culture. Addition of C-dots as a suspension in the anode chamber of an MFC resulted in a 22.5% enhancement in maximum power density. C-dots showed better performance as electron shuttles than methylene blue, a conventional electron shuttle used in MFCs.

Keywords

Microbial fuel cellQuantum dotAnodeNanomaterialsCarbon fibersElectron transfer

Identifiers

DOI
10.1007/s13205-016-0552-1
PubMed
28330300
Journal
3 Biotech
Year
2016