Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are considered as one of the best prospective natural resources to be discovered on the way to reduce the dependence on fossil fuel-based electricity generation. However, low power generations from MFCs, expensive electrode materials, and the inability to scale-ups MFCs to industrially relevant capacities have made the usage of MFC even worse. The utilization of MFCs in the area of electro-chemistry and thermal science can be very promising in energy storage aspects. In this current study, we studied various combinations of electrode materials and processes that can be applied to construct economical MFCs on small scale. To figure out the best suited MFC setup, MFC systems are prepared using different electrode materials and impacts of these materials on voltage generation are investigated. The cells are observed for 10 h, and voltage generation is witnessed by natural chemical reaction. Then, voltage, current, and power density curves are generated. Next, a pseudo-two-dimensional (2D) physics-based mathematical full cell model is developed to investigate the best suited MFC as a potential energy storage device. It is observed that the numerical results generated from the model are in good agreement with those obtained from the experimental analyses. Hence, the model should be able to predict the better performing anode and cathode materials to build microbial fuel cells having a maximum amount of voltage storage capacity in a specific period. Details of this work will provide more useful information on the concept of MFC and design guidelines for several applications such as energy storage and transformation.

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in various energy storage systems. In this article, a physics-based mathematical model of silicon micro-particle (SiMP) anode is developed to identify the principal reasons of voltage hysteresis occurrence during lithiation and delithiation battery cycling of silicon (Si) anode-based lithium half cells. Firstly, lithium diffusion, reaction kinetics, thermodynamics and mechanical stress and strain are selected, and relevant mathematical equations are developed. To examine the impact of hydrostatic stresses on electrochemical reactions in battery electrodes, a modified version of Butler-Volmer (BV) kinetics equation including hydrostatic stress induced voltage term is implemented. For model development, essential parameters are identified and sensitivity analysis is conducted to figure out the best fitted parametric values. Finally, a physics-based mathematical model is developed to investigate the impact of key parameters on generated voltage hysteresis of the SiMP half cells. Using this mathematical model, voltage curves are generated and fitted with the experimental results. In addition, the model is used to identify performance limitations. By examining the influence of the key parameters on the voltage curves during battery cycling, the model exhibits the principal causes of voltage differences during lithiation and delithiation. The detail of this article will provide more crucial information.