Development of Polymeric Porous Membrane for Mediator-Less Microbial Fuel Cells: An Electrochemical Study
Date
Authors
Major Professor
Advisor
Committee Member
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Authors
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Is Version Of
Versions
Series
Department
Abstract
In this work, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are embedded on the proton exchange membrane in a straightforward manner and are made highly stable. Nanoparticles provide high surface-to-volume ratio with excellent biocompatibility, using appropriate ligands, which allows for a biocompatible environment for bacterial functions. High conductivity, high surface area and catalytic properties of AuNPs make them excellent materials for MFCs. We employed layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly technique to prepare multilayered thin-films of polycation poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) and negatively functionalized AuNPs. The (PAH/AuNP) thin-films act as the catalyst layers and are to provide means for high porosity and high electrical conductive in the LbL thin-films when the polycation serve to assist LbL thin-film formation through ionic bonds. Scanning electron microscopy was used to investigate the morphology and nano/microstructure of the porous membrane catalyst. Samples consisting of different thickness thin-films were tested for their performance over five-day periods. Bioelectricity was generated using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 cultivated on organic substrate with trypticase soy broth medium. Trypticase soy broth and ferricyanide were injected into the anode and cathode chambers as anolyte and catholyte respectively. Generated voltage and current were monitored and recorded using LabView though NI-DMM, over five-day periods.
Comments
This is a conference proceeding from Proceedings of the 7th International Conference on Energy Sustainability (2013): 1. Posted with permission.