Issue 13, 2024

Nanofiber applications in microbial fuel cells for enhanced energy generation: a mini review

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent simple devices that harness the metabolic activities of microorganisms to produce electrical energy from diverse sources such as organic waste and sustainable biomass. Because of their unique advantage to generate sustainable energy, through the employment of biodegradable and repurposed waste materials, the development of MFCs has garnered considerable interest. Critical elements are typically the electrodes and separator. This mini-review article presents a critical assessment of nanofiber technology used as electrodes and separators in MFCs to enhance energy generation. In particular, the review highlights the application of nanofiber webs in each part of MFCs including anodes, cathodes, and membranes and their influence on energy generation. The role of nanofiber technology in this regard is then analysed in detail, focusing on improved electron transfer rate, enhanced biofilm formation, and enhanced durability and stability. In addition, the challenges and opportunities associated with integrating nanofibers into MFCs are discussed, along with suggestions for future research in this field. Significant developments in MFCs over the past decade have led to a several-fold increase in achievable power density, yet further improvements in performance and the exploration of cost-effective materials remain promising areas for further advancement. This review demonstrates the great promise of nanofiber-based electrodes and separators in future applications of MFCs.

Graphical abstract: Nanofiber applications in microbial fuel cells for enhanced energy generation: a mini review

Associated articles

Article information

Article type
Review Article
Submitted
26 Jan 2024
Accepted
07 Mar 2024
First published
18 Mar 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2024,14, 9122-9136

Nanofiber applications in microbial fuel cells for enhanced energy generation: a mini review

F. Yalcinkaya, R. Torres-Mendieta, J. Hruza, A. Vávrová, L. Svobodová, A. Pietrelli and I. Ieropoulos, RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 9122 DOI: 10.1039/D4RA00674G

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications, without requesting further permission from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given and it is not used for commercial purposes.

To request permission to reproduce material from this article in a commercial publication, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party commercial publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements