title: Application of conductive polymers in biocathode of microbial fuel cells and microbial community.
abstract: Four kinds of conductive polymers, polyaniline (PANI) and its co-polymers poly (aniline-co-o-aminophenol) (PANOA), poly (aniline-co-2, 4-diaminophenol) (PANDAP) and poly (aniline-1, 8-diaminonaphthalene) (PANDAN) were applied to modify carbon felts as the aerobic abiotic cathodes and biocathodes in microbial fuel cells (MFC). Compare to unmodified, all the four polymers can significantly improve the power densities for both abiotic cathodes (increased by 300%) and biocathodes (increased by 180%). The co-polymers with different functional groups introduction had further special advantages in MFC performance: PANOA and PANDAP with -OH showed less sensitivity to DO and pH change in cathode; PANDAP and PANDAN with -NH(3) provided better attachment condition for biofilm which endowed them higher power output. With the help of conductive polymer coats, the cathode biofilm became thicker, and according to biodiversity analysis, the predominated phyla changed from β-Proteobacteria (unmodified) to α, γ-Proteobacteria (modified), which may be responsible for the superiority of the modified MFCs.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210046, Jiangsu, PR China.
authors.forename: Chao
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Lili
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.forename: Libin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Hongqiang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D044822:Biodiversity; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D002384:Catalysis; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D004566:Electrodes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011108:Polymers / Q000737:chemistry*; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D012995:Solubility; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011108:Polymers; D010100:Oxygen