TY - JOUR
T1 - Recent advances in the development and utilization of modern anode materials for high performance microbial fuel cells
AU - Sonawane, Jayesh M.
AU - Yadav, Abhishek
AU - Ghosh, Prakash C.
AU - Adeloju, Samuel B.
N1 - Includes bibliographical references.
PY - 2017/4/15
Y1 - 2017/4/15
N2 - Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are novel bio-electrochemical device for spontaneous or single step conversion of biomass into electricity, based on the use of metabolic activity of bacteria. The design and use of MFCs has attracted considerable interests because of the potential new opportunities they offer for sustainable production of energy from biodegradable and reused waste materials. However, the associated slow microbial kinetics and costly construction materials has limited a much wider commercial use of the technology. In the past ten years, there has been significant new developments in MFCs which has resulted in several-fold increase in achievable power density. Yet, there is still considerable possibility for further improvement in performance and development of new cost effective materials. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advances in the construction and utilization of novel anodes for MFCs. In particular, it highlights some of the critical roles and functions of anodes in MFCs, strategies available for improving surface areas of anodes, dominant performance of stainless-steel based anode materials, and the emerging benefits of inclusion of nanomaterials. The review also demonstrates that some of the materials are very promising for large scale MFC applications and are likely to replace conventional anodes for the development of next generation MFC systems. The hurdles to the development of commercial MFC technology are also discussed. Furthermore, the future directions in the design and selection of materials for construction and utilization of MFC anodes are highlighted.
AB - Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are novel bio-electrochemical device for spontaneous or single step conversion of biomass into electricity, based on the use of metabolic activity of bacteria. The design and use of MFCs has attracted considerable interests because of the potential new opportunities they offer for sustainable production of energy from biodegradable and reused waste materials. However, the associated slow microbial kinetics and costly construction materials has limited a much wider commercial use of the technology. In the past ten years, there has been significant new developments in MFCs which has resulted in several-fold increase in achievable power density. Yet, there is still considerable possibility for further improvement in performance and development of new cost effective materials. This paper comprehensively reviews recent advances in the construction and utilization of novel anodes for MFCs. In particular, it highlights some of the critical roles and functions of anodes in MFCs, strategies available for improving surface areas of anodes, dominant performance of stainless-steel based anode materials, and the emerging benefits of inclusion of nanomaterials. The review also demonstrates that some of the materials are very promising for large scale MFC applications and are likely to replace conventional anodes for the development of next generation MFC systems. The hurdles to the development of commercial MFC technology are also discussed. Furthermore, the future directions in the design and selection of materials for construction and utilization of MFC anodes are highlighted.
KW - Air-cathode
KW - Biocatalyst
KW - Biofilm
KW - Microbial fuel cells
KW - Stainless steel
KW - Wastewater
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85006147292&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85006147292&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.bios.2016.10.014
DO - 10.1016/j.bios.2016.10.014
M3 - Review article
C2 - 27825877
AN - SCOPUS:85006147292
SN - 0956-5663
VL - 90
SP - 558
EP - 576
JO - Biosensors and Bioelectronics
JF - Biosensors and Bioelectronics
ER -