Diversifying Biological Fuel Cell Designs by Use of Nanoporous Filters

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• 作者：Justin C. Biffinger ; Ricky Ray ; Brenda Little ; Bradley R. Ringeisen
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2007
• 出版时间：February 15, 2007
• 年：2007
• 卷：41
• 期：4
• 页码：1444 - 1449
• 全文大小：211K
• 年卷期：v.41,no.4(February 15, 2007)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

The use of proton exchange membranes (PEMs) inbiological fuel cells limits the diversity of novel designsfor increasing output power or enabling autonomous functionin unique environments. Here we show that selectednanoporous polymer filters (nylon, cellulose, or polycarbonate)can be used effectively in place of PEMs in a miniaturemicrobial fuel cell (mini-MFC, device cross-section 2 cm²),generating a power density of 16 W/m³ with an uncoatedgraphite felt oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) cathode. Theincorporation of polycarbonate or nylon membranes intobiological fuel cell designs produced comparable power anddurability to Nafion-117 membranes. Also, high powerdensities for novel larger (5 cm³ anode volume, 0.6 W/m³)and smaller (0.025 cm³ projected geometric volume,average power density 10 W/m³) chamberless and pumplessmicrobial fuel cells were observed. As an additionalbenefit, the nanoporous membranes isolated the anodefrom invading natural bacteria, increasing the potentialapplications for MFCs beyond aquatic sediment environments.This work is a practical solution for decreasing the costof biological fuel cells while incorporating new features forpowering long-term autonomous devices.