Issue 2, 2023

Functionalised graphite felt anodes for enhanced power generation in membrane-less soil microbial fuel cells

Abstract

There is a global need for sustainable and clean technologies that can actively contribute to reach the net-zero carbon goal by 2050. In this context, Soil Microbial Fuel Cell (SMFC) technology has a huge potential as an affordable and green energy harvesting source and as a carbon-neutral bioremediation strategy for the treatment of polluted lands. In this work, for the first time, cobalt oxide (Co3O4) modified graphite felt (GF) electrodes are explored as the anode material in SMFCs, with the aim of promoting the development of a high-performing electroactive biofilm and, therefore, boosting electrogenesis. First, cobalt hydoxide salt are hydrothermally distributed onto the graphite felt electrodes, then Co3O4 nanoflowers are obtained by calcination. The resulting Co3O4–GF electrodes show lower hydrophobicity and higher conductivity than GF, however, when Co3O4–GF is tested as the anode of a membrane-less, air-cathode SMFC device, after an initial boost in power performance, the activity decays with time, probably due to Co3O4 leaching. To overcome this issue, Co3O4 –GF electrodes are interweaved with polyaniline (PANI), resulting in PANI–Co3O4–GF, for a much more stable SMFC system, which generates a peak power density of 70 mW m−2 at a current density of 143 mA m−2. This value of power density is nearly three times greater than the power generated by the same SMFC system with a plain GF anode. The interweaving of PANI onto the Co3O4–GF electrode leads to a porous structure that, while providing stability to the electrode over prolonged periods of operation, also favours microbial attachment. Overall, these results provide exciting perspectives on the development of composite carbon-based anode materials for high performing soil microbial fuel cells, thus inspiring future trends in the field.

Graphical abstract: Functionalised graphite felt anodes for enhanced power generation in membrane-less soil microbial fuel cells

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
19 Oct 2022
Accepted
23 Dec 2022
First published
04 Jan 2023
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Sustain., 2023,1, 310-325

Functionalised graphite felt anodes for enhanced power generation in membrane-less soil microbial fuel cells

S. K. Dhillon, J. Dziegielowski, P. P. Kundu and M. Di Lorenzo, RSC Sustain., 2023, 1, 310 DOI: 10.1039/D2SU00079B

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