High-power microbial-fuel-based hybrid cells with three-dimensional graphene-coated iron foam as an anode control Fe³⁺ release

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) benefit from the introduction of iron in the anode, as its multiple valence states and high electron-catalytic activity led to improved power densities in MFCs. However, the effect of long-term Fe³⁺ release into the electrolyte on the power density of MFCs is often overlooked. Herein, an anode consisting of a three-dimensional iron foam uniformly coated by reduced graphene oxide (rGO/IF) with a suitable loading density (8 g/m²) and a large specific surface area (0.05 m²/g) for high-density bacterial loading was prepared. The hybrid cells based on the rGO/IF anode exhibit a maximum power density of 5330 ± 76 mW/m² contributed by MFCs and galvanic cells. The rGO/IF anode enables continuous Fe³⁺ release for high electron-catalytic activity in the electrolyte during the discharging of the galvanic cells. As a result, the hybrid cells showed a power density of 2107 ± 64 mW/m² after four cycles, facilitated through reversible conversion between Fe³⁺ and Fe²⁺ in the electrolyte to accelerate electron transfer efficiency. The results indicate that the rGO/IF anode can be used for designing and fabricating high-power MFCs by optimizing the rate of release of Fe³⁺ in the electrolyte.

Keywords

graphene-coated foam / iron ions / microbial fuel cells / power density / slow release

References

[1] Liu Y, Fan Y-S, Liu Z-M. Pyrolysis of iron phthalocyanine on activated carbon as highly efficient non-noble metal oxygen reduction catalyst in microbial fuel cells. Chem Eng J. 2019; 361: 416-427.

[2] Jin S, Feng Y, Jia J, et al. Three-dimensional N-doped carbon nanotube/graphene composite aerogel anode to develop high-power microbial fuel cell. Energy Environ Mater. 2023; 6(3): 161-169.

[3] Cao B, Zhao Z, Peng L, et al. Silver nanoparticles boost charge-extraction efficiency in Shewanella microbial fuel cells. Science. 2021; 373(6561): 1336-1340.

[4] Logan BE, Rabaey K. Conversion of wastes into bioelectricity and chemicals by using microbial electrochemical technologies. Science. 2012; 337(6095): 686-690.

[5] Cui Y, Lai B, Tang X. Microbial fuel cell-based biosensors. Biosensors. 2019; 9(3): 92.

[6] Yi Y, Xie B, Zhao T, Liu H. Comparative analysis of microbial fuel cell-based biosensors developed with a mixed culture and Shewanella loihica PV-4 and underlying biological mechanism. Bioresour Technol. 2018; 265: 415-421.

[7] Yiu C, Liu Y, Zhang C, et al. Soft, stretchable, wireless intelligent three-lead electrocardiograph monitors with feedback functions for warning of potential heart attack. SmartMat. 2022; 3(4): 668-684.

[8] Anderson IA, Ieropoulos IA, McKay T, O’Brien B, Melhuish C. Power for robotic artificial muscles. IEEE/ASME Trans Mech. 2011; 16(1): 107-111.

[9] Choi S, Chae J. An array of microliter-sized microbial fuel cells generating 100 µW of power. Sens Actuators A Phys. 2012; 177: 10-15.

[10] Oh SE, Logan BE. Voltage reversal during microbial fuel cell stack operation. J Power Sources. 2007; 167(1): 11-17.

[11] Wilkinson S. “Gastrobots”—benefits and challenges of microbial fuel cells in food powered robot applications. Auton Robots. 2000; 9(2): 99-111.

[12] Massaglia G, Sacco A, Favetto A, et al. Integration of portable sedimentary microbial fuel cells in autonomous underwater vehicles. Energies. 2021; 14(15): 4551.

[13] Ortiz-Martínez VM, Gajda I, Salar-García MJ, Greenman J, Hernández-Fernández FJ, Ieropoulos I. Study of the effects of ionic liquid-modified cathodes and ceramic separators on MFC performance. Chem Eng J. 2016; 291: 317-324.

[14] Touach N, Ortiz-Martínez VM, Salar-García MJ, et al. Influence of the preparation method of MnO₂-based cathodes on the performance of single-chamber MFCs using wastewater. Sep Purif Technol. 2016; 171: 174-181.

[15] Iftimie S, Dumitru A. Enhancing the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with nitrophenyl modified carbon nanotubes-based anodes. Appl Surf Sci. 2019; 492: 661-668.

[16] Zhu K, Wang S, Liu H, et al. Heteroatom-doped porous carbon nanoparticle-decorated carbon cloth (HPCN/CC) as efficient anode electrode for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). J Clean Prod. 2022; 336: 130374.

[17] Qing S, Wang LL, Jiang LP, Wu X, Zhu JJ. Live microalgal cells modified by L-cys/Au@carbon dots/bilirubin oxidase layers for enhanced oxygen reduction in a membrane-less biofuel cell. SmartMat. 2022; 3(2): 298-310.

[18] Mukherjee P, Saravanan P. Pyrolytically synthesized cobalt-based carbon nitrogen framework as an efficient cathode catalyst in MFC application. J Environ Chem Eng. 2022; 10(6): 108940.

[19] Kim C, Song YE, Lee CR, Jeon BH, Kim JR. Glycerol-fed microbial fuel cell with a co-culture of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 and Klebsiella pneumonae J2B. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol. 2016; 43(10): 1397-1403.

[20] Hasan K, Grattieri M, Wang T, Milton RD, Minteer SD. Enhanced bioelectrocatalysis of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 by a naphthoquinone redox polymer. ACS Energy Lett. 2017; 2(9): 1947-1951.

[21] Wang Y-Z, Shen Y, Gao L, Liao Z-H, Sun J-Z. Yong Y-C. Improving the extracellular electron transfer of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 for enhanced bioelectricity production from biomass hydrolysate. RSC Adv. 2017; 7(48): 30488-30494.

[22] Jiang Y, Song R, Cao L, Su Z, Ma Y, Liu Y. Harvesting energy from cellulose through Geobacter sulfurreducens in unique ternary culture. Anal Chim Acta. 2019; 1050: 44-50.

[23] Ma J, Shi N, Jia J. Fe₃O₄ nanospheres decorated reduced graphene oxide as anode to promote extracellular electron transfer efficiency and power density in microbial fuel cells. Electrochim Acta. 2020; 362: 137126.

[24] Li M, Yu X-L, Li YW, et al. Investigating the electron shuttling characteristics of resazurin in enhancing bio-electricity generation in microbial fuel cell. Chem Eng J. 2022; 428: 130924.

[25] Ma Y, Wu X, Shi Z, et al. Photoactive manganese ferrite-modified bacterial anode to simultaneously boost both mediated and direct electron transfer processes in microbial fuel cells. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. 2022; 10(10): 3355-3362.

[26] Zhang P, Liu J, Qu Y, Feng Y. Enhanced Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 anode performance by adding fumarate in microbial fuel cell. Chem Eng J. 2017; 328: 697-702.

[27] Liu Y, Sun Y, Li C, et al. Carbon nanotubes encapsulating FeS₂ micropolyhedrons as an anode electrocatalyst for improving the power generation of microbial fuel cells. J Colloid Interface Sci. 2022; 629(Part B): 970-979.

[28] Song RB, Zhao CE, Jiang LP, Abdel-Halim ES. Zhang JR, Zhu JJ. Bacteria-affinity 3D macroporous graphene/MWCNTs/Fe₃O₄ foams for high-performance microbial fuel cells. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2016; 8(25): 16170-16177.

[29] Hori T, Aoyagi T, Itoh H, et al. Isolation of microorganisms involved in reduction of crystalline iron(III) oxides in natural environments. Front Microbiol. 2015; 6: 386.

[30] Qian F, Wang H, Ling Y, Wang G, Thelen MP, Li Y. Photoenhanced electrochemical interaction between Shewanella and a hematite nanowire photoanode. Nano Lett. 2014; 14(6): 3688-3693.

[31] Banin E, Vasil ML, Greenberg EP. Iron and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilm formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2005; 102(31): 11076-11081.

[32] Zhang L, Zhu X, Li J, Liao Q, Ye D. Biofilm formation and electricity generation of a microbial fuel cell started up under different external resistances. J Power Sources. 2011; 196(15): 6029-6035.

[33] Wu D, Xing D, Lu L, Wei M, Liu B, Ren N. Ferric iron enhances electricity generation by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 in MFCs. Bioresour Technol. 2013; 135: 630-634.

[34] Lee Y, Bae S, Moon C, Lee W. Flavin mononucleotide mediated microbial fuel cell in the presence of Shewanella putrefaciens CN32 and iron-bearing mineral. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng. 2015; 20(5): 894-900.

[35] Zachara JM, Kukkadapu RK, Fredrickson JK, Gorby YA, Smith SC. Biomineralization of poorly crystalline Fe(III) oxides by dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria (DMRB). Geomicrobiol J. 2002; 19(2): 179-207.

[36] Liu Y, Wang J, Sun Y, et al. Nitrogen-doped carbon nanofibers anchoring Fe nanoparticles as biocompatible anode for boosting extracellular electron transfer in microbial fuel cells. J Power Sources. 2022; 544: 231890.

[37] Bose S, Hochella MF, Gorby YA, et al. Bioreduction of hematite nanoparticles by the dissimilatory iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella oneidensis MR-1. Geochim Cosmochim Acta. 2009; 73(4): 962-976.

[38] Sun M, Zhang C, Chen D, et al. Ultrasensitive and stable all graphene field-effect transistor-based Hg²⁺ sensor constructed by using different covalently bonded RGO films assembled by different conjugate linking molecules. SmartMat. 2021; 2(2): 213-225.

[39] Huang B, Fu G, He C, He H, Yu C, Pan X. Ferroferric oxide loads humic acid doped anode accelerate electron transfer process in anodic chamber of bioelectrochemical system. J Electroanal Chem. 2019; 851: 113464.

[40] Li Z, He M, Li B, et al. Bi₂S₃ nanorods hosted on rGO sheets from pyrolysis of molecular precursors for efficient Li-ion storage. Energy Environ Sci. 2020; 4(4): 577-585.

[41] Shu C, Gan Z, Hou Y, et al. Tailoring the porous structure of mono-dispersed hierarchically nitrogen-doped carbon spheres for highly efficient oxygen reduction reaction. Energy Environ Sci. 2020; 4(1): 81-87.

[42] Fan X, Zhou Y, Jin X, Song RB, Li Z, Zhang Q. Carbon material-based anodes in the microbial fuel cells. Carbon Energy. 2021; 3(3): 449-472.

[43] Song R-B, Zhou S, Guo D, et al. Core/satellite structured Fe₃O₄/Au nanocomposites incorporated with three-dimensional macroporous graphene foam as a high-performance anode for microbial fuel cells. ACS Sustain Chem Eng. 2019; 8(2): 1311-1318.

[44] Jiang Y, Li P, Wang Y, et al. Trifunctional modification of individual bacterial cells for magnet-assisted bioanodes with high performance in microbial fuel cells. J Mater Chem A. 2020; 8(46): 24515-24523.

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

2024 The Authors. SmartMat published by Tianjin University and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.