Modified Carbon Anode by MWCNTs/PANI Used in Marine Sediment Microbial Fuel Cell and its Electrochemical Performance

Abstract

Improving the performance of anode is a crucial step for increasing power output of marine sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs). A multi‐walled carbon nanotube/polyaniline (MWCNTs/PANI) modified anode was prepared by the way of electrochemical deposition and its electrochemical performance is investigated in this paper. Result shows that the wettability of carbon felt becomes better and the number of bacteria (9.52 × 1012 m−2) on anode biofilm is increased respectively, which is 9 times higher than that of the unmodified. The anti‐polarization ability of the modified anode increases significantly and its kinetic activity of electron transfer increases 4 times. Its exchange current density is 3.62 × 10−5 A cm−2. The maximum power density of the modified SMFC reaches 527.0 mW m−2, which is 4 times higher than that of the unmodified one. Finally, a novel molecular synergistic mechanisms for the enhanced SMFC is also presented, based on the higher bacteria number, the capacitive performance of PANI, the hydrogen bond interaction and higher conductivity of MWCNTs. This excellent electrochemical performance makes the MWCNTs/PANI composite be a potential choice for higher output SMFC.

Harvesting Energy using Biocatalysts

“…This method can be applied to fabricating enzymatic fuel cells as well. Modified carbon anode by MWCNTs/PANI used in marine sediment MFCs was reported by Fu et al, showing the maximum power density of the modified SMFC reached 527.0 mW m −2 , 4 times higher than that of the unmodified one 25. This indicated MWCNTs/PANI being a promising approach to enhance power output of MFC.…”

Effect of Amino Acid Addition in Marine Sediment on Electrochemical Performance in Microbial Fuel Cells

“…The qualitative comparison of biomass on different anode surfaces is shown in Figure . According to the formula N = Na · S/St , where N a is the average bacteria amount in vision field; S the surface area of carbon felt; S t the vision area for counting, the amount of microorganisms in Met (2.255 × 10 11 m −2 ), Thr (1.76 × 10 11 m −2 ) and Lys (5.680 × 10 10 m −2 ) are more than the blank (3.514 × 10 10 m −2 ). Parallel data and the relative standard deviations are listed in Table .…”

“…The number of bacteria was estimated by fluorescence microscopy according to the previously report . In briefly, 10 g of mud was taken from different anode surfaces and nearby area.…”

“…The bacteria on the microporous membrane was dyed with 10 μg mL −1 DAPI (4′, 6‐diamidino‐2‐phenylindole) for 5 min. They were observed with fluorescence microscopy . All electrochemical analysis were measured by CHI660E electrochemical workstation with a three‐electrode system composed of a carbon felt as working electrode, Ag/AgCl as reference electrode and a 9.0 cm 2 platinum as counter electrode.…”

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

“…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 . However, its development is still limited by low output power …”