Composite-modified anode by MnO₂/polypyrrole in marine benthic microbial fuel cells and its electrochemical performance

Abstract

Summary Low power limits the application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Our research mainly focuses on the modification of the electrode and looking for new anode material for high‐power marine benthic microbial fuel cells(BMFCs). A MnO2/PPy composite‐modified anode was fabricated by in situ chemical polymerization. Surface topography and properties were characterized by scanning electron microscopy and infrared spectroscopy, respectively, indicating that the MnO2/PPy composite is of a ‘mosaic‐like’ microstructure. The electrochemical performance and wettability of different kinds of anode were investigated respectively. Cyclic voltammetry and linear sweep voltammetry tests show that MnO2/PPy composite‐modified electrode has a typical capacitance feature; its capacitance is 3.1 times higher than that of unmodified electrode. Contact angle of the composite‐modified anode reduces to 46 ± 0.5°, and its kinetic activity increased for more than 1.1 times. The maximum output power density of MnO2/PPy composite‐modified cell reached 562.7 ± 10 mW m−2, which is 2.1‐fold of the unmodified one. Finally, the composite‐modified anode provides an alternative potential choice for high‐performance cell, and the possible influence mechanism of composite materials on the BMFCs was also analyzed. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

In situ chemo‐polymerized polypyrrole‐coated filter paper for high‐efficient solar vapor generation

“…In recent years, benefiting from the exploration of a number of photothermal, including carbon-based materials (carbon black, CNTs, graphene, GO, and rGO), 18 [29][30][31][32][33][34][35] ceramicbased materials (TiN and Ti 3 C 2 ), 8,36 plasmonic metal nanomaterials (Au and Ag,), [37][38][39] and polymer materials (polypyrrole [PPy], polydopamine, poly(1,3,5-hexahydro-1,3,5-triazine), and conjugated microporous polymers), [40][41][42][43][44][45] because of their broadband and high light absorption, great progress has been made in the design and fabrication of high efficiency solar steam generation devices. 46 In general, PPy, as a conjugated conductive polymer, has been explored for many applications, for instance, light-emitting diodes, [47][48][49][50] supercapacitor, 51,52 medical treatment, 53 catalysts, 54 and corrosion protection. 55,56 Moreover, based on its strong near-infrared light absorption (wavelength >700 nm), good in vivo biocompatibility, low biotoxicity, and facile chemical polymerization, PPy exhibits a great potentiality in the field of photothermal evaporation, and it is also studied extensively as the photothermal agent for cancer removal.…”

Modification of PPy‐NW Anode by Carbon Dots for High‐performance Mini‐microbial Fuel Cells

“…Obviously, the power density and current density increase strongly with the modification of PPy‐NWs and CDs/PPy‐NW. And the curves of MFC1 and MFC2 are relatively flat near the highest point owing to their larger capacitance . It is apparent, that MFC1 has the smallest R int , smaller than the other two MFCs.…”

A novel anode modified by 1,5-dihydroxyanthraquinone/multiwalled carbon nanotubes composite in marine sediment microbial fuel cell and its electrochemical performance

“…Tafel curve reflects a relation between the current density logarithm (or the current logarithm) and the anodic overpotential. It is often used to characterize the electron instantaneous transfer activity of electrode . The exchange current density ( i 0 ) and electron‐transfer kinetic activity (KA) are obtained by extrapolation to η = 0 of a linear regression between η = 60‐80 mV (Figure and Table ) .…”

“…Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that utilizes waste water and sludge as fuels to generate electricity, which has the advantages of being cheap and simple, high resource utilization, and free from contamination . Marine sediment microbial fuel cell (MSMFC), an alternative renewable power source for marine monitoring instruments, is a new type of the MFC that converts the chemical energy of organic or inorganic matter in sediments into electrical energy .…”

“…Anode is the acceptor of extracellular electron transfer, and its material and structure mainly affect microbial adhesion, transfer ability of electron, and electrode impedance . Abundant researches have been done to improve the output power of MSMFC by discovering new anode modification methods currently accompanied by shortcomings of high cost, many by‐products, and poor mechanical properties …”