Mini-review: Anode modification for improved performance of microbial fuel cell

Y. Hindatu, M.S.M. Annuar and A.M. Gumel

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2017, vol. 73, issue C, 236-248

Abstract: Microbial fuel cell (MFC) harnesses the metabolic activities of microorganism to generate electricity from substrate oxidation. However, the power generated from the MFC is relatively low for practical applications, thus the urgent need for its improvement. In MFC, anode is a crucial component of the setup, both structurally and functionally. It provides support for bacterial attachment and simultaneously acts as a sink for electrons from substrate metabolism. Poor performance of anode electrode in MFC is still a major setback for its practical applications. Successful anode electrode modification is expected to enhance the MFC electricity generation efficiency. Materials such as carbon nanotube, stainless steel, conducting polymers, metal oxides, and electrolytes have been employed as anode electrode modifiers with varying degree of success. Henceforth, this communication highlights and discusses the latest research advances made in MFC anode electrode modification using the aforementioned materials. The importance of the modification methods and their consequences towards anode architecture, biocompatibility, and longevity to improve the overall MFC performance are discussed.

Keywords: Microbial fuel cell; Anode electrode; Carbon nanotube (CNT); Graphene; Stainless steel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (21)

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S136403211730148X
Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:73:y:2017:i:c:p:236-248

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/bibliographic
http://www.elsevier. ... 600126/bibliographic

DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2017.01.138

Access Statistics for this article

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews is currently edited by L. Kazmerski

More articles in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews from Elsevier
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Catherine Liu ().