MESSAI.iO

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A microfabricated anode using electrospun microfibrous material outperformed traditional gold microelectrodes and carbon paper in a microbial fuel cell, but was affected by bubble production and flow rate variations.

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Literature priors

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Distribution

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What they did

System
MFC

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Abstract

Abstract In this work, a microfabricated anode based on gold coated poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) fiber was developed that outperformed gold microelectrode by a factor of 2.65‐fold and even carbon paper by 1.39‐fold. This is a result of its ability to three‐dimensionally interface with bacterial biofilm, the metabolic “engines” of the microbial fuel cell (MFC). We also examined unavoidable issues as the MFC is significantly reduced in size (e.g. to the microscale); (1) bubble production or movement into the microchamber and (2) high sensitivity to flow rate variations. In fact, intentionally induced bubble generation in the anodic chamber reduced the MFC current density by 33% and the MFC required 4 days to recover its initial performance. Under different flow rates in the anode chamber, the current densities were almost constant, however, the current increased up to 38% with increasing flow rate in the cathode.

Key findings

  • The microfabricated anode showed a 2.65-fold increase in performance compared to gold microelectrodes and a 1.39-fold increase compared to carbon paper.
  • Bubble production in the anodic chamber reduced MFC current density by 33% and took 4 days to recover.
  • Current density was almost constant under different flow rates in the anode chamber, but increased up to 38% with increasing flow rate in the cathode.

Keywords

AnodeMicrobial fuel cellMicroscale chemistryCathodeCurrent densityVolumetric flow rate

Identifiers

DOI
10.1002/fuce.201200225
Journal
Fuel Cells
Year
2013