A remarkable new electrode design represents a significant leap in microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. Fuel cells using the new cathode have more than two times the power density of current commercially available cathodes.
The porous textile fibre network is critical for cathode performance
MFCs are a promising technology that is able to act as both a renewable energy source and wastewater treatment method. They use the catalytic activity of microbes to oxidise organic matter in wastewater using oxygen, generating electrical energy. However, fuel cell performance is often limited by the cathode performance.
Continuing work previously published, the researchers have developed a new aqueous electrode (i.e. designed to work when submerged in an electrolyte purged with oxygen) in which they deposit platinum nanoparticles onto a carbon nanotube–textile composite.
The electrode allows a maximum MFC power density of 837 mW m−2; using a commercial carbon cloth–Pt electrode only obtains a density of 391 mW m−2.
This enhanced performance is attributed to the cathode’s superior design:
- the network of textile fibres allows a much larger electrochemically active surface area;
- the network also contains macroscale pores for fast access of electrolyte;
- a glacial acetic acid treatment during synthesis provided the electrode with an hydrophilic surface.
Read more about this exciting new work now:
Nano-structured textiles as high-performance aqueous cathodes for microbial fuel cells
Xing Xie, Mauro Pasta, Liangbing Hu, Yuan Yang, James McDonough, Judy Cha, Craig S. Criddle and Yi Cui
Energy Environ. Sci., 2011, Advance Article, DOI: 10.1039/C0EE00793E
