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Fabrication of Nanomodified Anodes for Power Density Enhancement of Microbial Fuel Cells

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 January 2011

Rebecca Schaller ,
Yanzhen Fan ,
Shoutao Xu ,
Alan Fern ,
Frank Chaplen ,
Hong Liu  and
Jun Jiao
Rebecca Schaller
Affiliation:
schaller@pdx.edu, Portland State University, Department of Physics, Portland, Oregon, United States
Yanzhen Fan
Affiliation:
fanya@engr.orst.edu, Oregon State University, Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Shoutao Xu
Affiliation:
xush@onid.orst.edu, Oregon State University, Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Alan Fern
Affiliation:
afern@eecs.oregonstate.edu, Oregon State University, Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Frank Chaplen
Affiliation:
chaplenf@engr.orst.edu, Oregon State University, Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Hong Liu
Affiliation:
liuh@engr.orst.edu, Oregon State University, Department of Biological and Ecological Engineering, Corvallis, Oregon, United States
Jun Jiao
Affiliation:
jiaoj@pdx.edu, Portland State University, Department of Physics, Portland, Oregon, United States
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Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) use microorganisms to simultaneously break down organic materials and generate electricity. One of the greatest challenges in the practical application of MFCs is to sufficiently increase their power generation. Nanomodified graphite carbon anodes were prepared for use in MFCs to enhance the electron transport from the microbes to the electrode. Nanomodification to the anodes included growth of nanoparticles and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Nanoparticles of various metals, including Au, Ni, Pd, and Fe, were synthesized through thermal annealing and Fe catalyzed MWCNTs were synthesized through chemical vapor deposition. Power density was measured in MFCs for each type of nanomodified electrodes. Significant increase in power density was observed for the MFC with anodes decorated with MWCNTs (with 50-100nm diameters).

Keywords

nanostructurenanoscaleenergy generation
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1170: Symposium R – Materials for Renewable Energy at the Society and Technology Nexus , 2009 , 1170-R05-13
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2009

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