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Nanomaterials in Microbial Fuel Cells and Related Applications

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Microbial Nanobionics

Part of the book series: Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences ((NALIS))

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Abstract

This chapter mainly focuses on microbial fuel cell and applications of nanomaterials in microbial fuel cell. Dumping of waste on environment has increased drastically. It has massive impacts and effects on environment. Also it causes serious problems. Microbial fuel cell is a device that generates sustainable energy from the waste using electrochemically active microorganisms. It is fabricated with electrodes, membranes, and catalysts. It is functioning on the mechanisms like electron transfer mechanism and oxygen reduction reaction. In addition to electricity generation, it has applications like remote power source, fuel gas production (hydrogen and methane), wastewater treatment, water desalination, biosensors, remote sensors, and cleaning of polluted water reservoirs or sources (like ponds, lakes, and rivers). Nanomaterials are emerging as an important materials created by nanotechnology. Particles of these materials are smaller than 100 nanometers in at least one dimension. Their physical and chemical properties often differ from their bulk materials. They are utilized in the fabrication of microbial fuel cell components. Nanomaterials like carbon nanomaterials, nanocomposites, and biogenic inorganic nanoparticles improve the functioning of microbial fuel cell. Their unique property like high surface area supports for the catalytic activity. Also, this chapter discusses about the challenges faced by microbial fuel cell and the factors influencing on the microbial fuel cell output.

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Abbreviations

2D:

Two dimension

3D:

Three dimension

AC:

Activated carbon

Am−2:

Ampere per meter square (unit for current density)

Am−3:

Ampere per cubic meter (unit for current density)

ANB:

Acid navy blue r dye

ARB:

Anode-respiring bacteria

Au:

Gold

BECs:

Bioelectrochemical cells

bioMEMS:

Biomedical microelectromechanical systems

BOD:

Biochemical oxygen demand

CE:

Coulomb efficiency

CeO2:

Ceric oxide (or) ceric dioxide (or) ceria (or) cerium oxide (or) cerium dioxide (or) cerium(IV) oxide

CFE:

Carbon felt electrode

CMC:

Carboxymethyl cellulose

CNTs:

Carbon nanotubes

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

CPPEs:

Carbon paste paper electrodes

Cr(III):

Trivalent chromium

Cr(VI):

Hexavalent chromium

CS:

Chitosan

e−:

Electrons

EDX:

Energy dispersive X-Ray analyzer

Fe-AAPyr:

Iron-aminoantipyrine

GNS:

Graphene nanosheet

GO:

Graphene oxide

H+ ions:

Protons

HRTEM:

Transmission electron microscope

kΩ:

Kiloohm (unit for resistance)

MFC:

Microbial fuel cells

MnO2:

Manganese oxide (or) manganese dioxide (or) manganese(IV) oxide

MnOOH:

Hydroxy-oxido-oxomanganese

mV:

Millivolt (unit for potential)

MWCNTs:

Multiwall carbon nanotubes

mW/m2:

Milliwatts per square meter (unit for power density)

Ni:

Nickel

nm:

Nanometer

nW/cm2:

Nano-watts per square centimeter (unit for power density)

ORR:

Oxygen reduction reaction

PA:

Phosphoric acid

PANI:

Polyaniline

Pd:

Palladium

PDMS:

Polydimethylsiloxane

PEM:

Proton-exchange membrane

pH:

Power of hydrogen

PMMA:

Polymethyl methacrylate

POE:

Poly(oxyethylene)

Pt:

Platinum

PTFE:

Polytetrafluoroethylene

PVA:

Poly(vinyl alcohol)

PVAc-g-PVDF:

Polyvinyl acetate-polyvinylidene fluoride coated cotton fabric

rGO:

Reduced graphene oxide

SCOD:

Soluble chemical oxygen demand

SEM:

Scanning electron microscope

STEM:

Scanning transmission electron microscope

TCOD:

Total chemical oxygen demand

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Acknowledgment

The author expresses thanks to her husband Mr. G. Sankar for his assistances in this work. Also, she acknowledges the assistances of the International Research Center, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education (Deemed University), Krishnankoil – 626 126 (India).

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  1. International Research Centre, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education(Deemed University), Krishnankoil, TN, India

    Theivasanthi Thirugnanasambandan

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  1. Department of Botany, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar, India

    Ram Prasad

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Thirugnanasambandan, T. (2019). Nanomaterials in Microbial Fuel Cells and Related Applications. In: Prasad, R. (eds) Microbial Nanobionics. Nanotechnology in the Life Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-16383-9_13

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