title: Hierarchical micro/nano structures of carbon composites as anodes for microbial fuel cells.
abstract: We demonstrate the utility of hierarchical micro/nano structures of electrically conductive carbon composites as anodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). To construct the hierarchical structures, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were directly grown on micro-porous graphite felts at high densities. Using the CNT-modified felts as anodes, power outputs from MFCs were increased ∼7 fold compared to those with bare graphite-felt anodes. We also show that this power improvement is sustainable even in MFCs operated with naturally occurring microbial communities. These results suggest the wide utility of the hierarchical micro/nano structures of conductive carbon composites for bio-electrochemical processes.
authors.affiliation: ERATO Hashimoto Light Energy Conversion Project, Japan Science and Technology Agency, 7-3-1 Hongo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Kazuya
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hashimoto
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D010316:Particle Size; D016062:Porosity; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon