Boosting Power Density of Microbial Fuel Cells with 3D Nitrogen-Doped Graphene Aerogel Electrode.
A 3D nitrogen-doped graphene aerogel (N-GA) as an anode material for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is reported. Electron microscopy images reveal that the N-GA possesses hierarchical porous structure that allows efficient diffusion of both bacterial cells and electron mediators in the interior space of 3D electrode, and thus, the colonization of bacterial communities. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopic measurements further show that nitrogen doping considerably reduces the charge transfer resistance and internal resistance of GA, which helps to enhance the MFC power density. Importantly, the dual-chamber milliliter-scale MFC with N-GA anode yields an outstanding volumetric power density of 225 ± 12 W m-3normalized to the total volume of the anodic chamber (750 ± 40 W m-3normalized to the volume of the anode). These power densities are the highest values report for milliliter-scale MFCs with similar chamber size (25 mL) under the similar measurement conditions. The 3D N-GA electrode shows great promise for improving the power generation of MFC devices.
Key Laboratory of Low-Grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 P.R. China; Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA.
Yang
Y
Yang
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA.
Tianyu
T
Liu
Key Laboratory of Low-Grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 P.R. China.
Xun
X
Zhu
Key Laboratory for Advanced Technology in Environmental Protection of Jiangsu Province Yancheng Institute of Technology Yancheng 224051 P.R. China.
Feng
F
Zhang
Key Laboratory of Low-Grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 P.R. China.
Dingding
D
Ye
Key Laboratory of Low-Grade Energy Utilization Technologies and Systems Institute of Engineering Thermophysics Chongqing University Chongqing 400030 P.R. China.
Qiang
Q
Liao
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry University of California - Santa Cruz Santa Cruz CA 95064 USA.
Yat
Y
Li
Shewanella oneidensis; microbial fuel cells; nitrogen‐doped graphene aerogels; power density