A novel of 2D 3D combination carbon electrode to improve yeast microbial fuel cell performance

Abstract

This study developed a unique and outstanding 2D-3D anode using an Activated Carbon (AC) or Charcoal Powder (CP) coating on the carbon felt (CF) surface. The anode structure’s high surface area and outstanding electrical conductivity were discovered to improve the enrichment and growth of yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and promote extracellular electron transfer (EET) from the yeast to the anode surface in a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) system. Subsequently, an extensive characterization including surface morphology, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical analysis, and biofilm adhesion tests, was performed to the hybrid material’s suitability as an MFC anode. The maximum power density of an MFC, installed with the CF/AC as a 2D-3D hybrid anode, was 54.58 mW m−2 or 442% higher, compared to the bare CF counterpart. In addition, the hybrid anode produced an internal resistance of 345 Ω in the MFC or about 77% lower, compared to the bare CF counterpart. This improved performance was in turn responsible for the 2.26-fold increase in the quantity of biofilm deposited at the CF/AC anode surface, compared to the bare CF counterpart. Therefore, this hybrid anode manufactured using a simple dip-coating method is a promising anode for high-performance MFC applications.