Issue 45, 2017

Platinum-free, graphene based anodes and air cathodes for single chamber microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) exploit the ability of microorganisms to generate electrical power during metabolism of substrates. However, the low efficiency of extracellular electron transfer from cells to the anode and the use of expensive rare metals as catalysts, such as platinum, limit their application and scalability. In this study we investigate the use of pristine graphene based electrodes at both the anode and the cathode of a MFC for efficient electrical energy production from the metabolically versatile bacterium Rhodopseudomonas palustris CGA009. We achieve a volumetric peak power output (PV) of up to 3.51 ± 0.50 W m−3 using graphene based aerogel anodes with a surface area of 8.2 m2 g−1. We demonstrate that enhanced MFC output arises from the interplay of the improved surface area, enhanced conductivity, and catalytic surface groups of the graphene based electrode. In addition, we show a 500-fold increase in PV to 1.3 ± 0.23 W m−3 when using a graphene coated stainless steel (SS) air cathode, compared to an uncoated SS cathode, demonstrating the feasibility of a platinum-free, graphene catalysed MFCs. Finally, we show a direct application for microwatt-consuming electronics by connecting several of these coin sized devices in series to power a digital clock.

Graphical abstract: Platinum-free, graphene based anodes and air cathodes for single chamber microbial fuel cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
04 Aug 2017
Accepted
30 Oct 2017
First published
02 Nov 2017
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017,5, 23872-23886

Platinum-free, graphene based anodes and air cathodes for single chamber microbial fuel cells

T. P. Call, T. Carey, P. Bombelli, D. J. Lea-Smith, P. Hooper, C. J. Howe and F. Torrisi, J. Mater. Chem. A, 2017, 5, 23872 DOI: 10.1039/C7TA06895F

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements