title: Increased performance of a tubular microbial fuel cell with a rotating carbon-brush anode.
abstract: A novel method was proposed to improve the power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by rotating the carbon-brush anode. The MFC with a rotating anode produced a peak power density of 210±3 W/m(3) and a maximum current density of 945±43 A/m(3), 1.4 and 2.7 times higher than those of the non-rotating case, respectively. The difference of the electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry before and after anode rotation clearly suggested that the mass transfer to the spiral space was enhanced by the rotating anode. Furthermore, Tafel plots analysis also revealed that the rotating anode can improve the electrochemical activity of the biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China. Electronic address: lijun@cqu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Dingding
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Low-grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China; Institute of Engineering Thermophysics, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China.
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D004566:Electrodes; D004735:Energy Transfer; D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D012399:Rotation
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon
keywords: Diffusion resistance; Electrochemical activity; Microbial fuel cells; Substrate transport