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Integration of Cost-Efficient Carbon Electrodes into the Development of Microbial Fuel Cells

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Nanoporous Carbons for Soft and Flexible Energy Devices

Part of the book series: Carbon Materials: Chemistry and Physics ((CMCP,volume 11))

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells are a renewable energy technology that can generate electricity from organic fuel such as wastewater, whilst simultaneously treating it. In order to implement this technology at larger scale, a major challenge is the choice of suitable electrode material that determines system performance and cost. This chapter discusses carbon-based electrodes and characteristics of carbonaceous materials that are both high performing and cost-effective in light of the technology implementation at larger scale for practical applications. The focus is on the most recent findings and incorporation of lightweight, robust and biocompatible carbon fibre electrodes in the form of carbon veil both as the anode and cathode counterparts and their suitability in larger scale designs. The chapter also presents modification strategies of this substratum with microparticles such as activated carbon as another cost-effective approach that may assist in bringing this technology closer to market.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, UWE, Bristol, UK

    Jiseon You, Iwona Gajda, John Greenman & Ioannis A. Ieropoulos

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  1. Jiseon You
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  2. Iwona Gajda
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  3. John Greenman
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  4. Ioannis A. Ieropoulos
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Jiseon You or Ioannis A. Ieropoulos .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Francesca Borghi

  2. Department of Chemistry “Giacomo Ciamician”, Alma Mater Studiorum University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Francesca Soavi

  3. Department of Physics, University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Paolo Milani

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You, J., Gajda, I., Greenman, J., Ieropoulos, I.A. (2022). Integration of Cost-Efficient Carbon Electrodes into the Development of Microbial Fuel Cells. In: Borghi, F., Soavi, F., Milani, P. (eds) Nanoporous Carbons for Soft and Flexible Energy Devices. Carbon Materials: Chemistry and Physics, vol 11. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-81827-2_3

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