A Novel Polyaniline Modified Fluorine Doped Tin Oxide Anode for Microbial Fuel Cells
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Date
2021
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Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells are increasingly interest in the scientific community as a potential solution
towards worldwide energy related problems and waste water purification. Microbial fuel cells harness
the metabolism of microorganisms and utilize the organic matter to generate electric energy. The
research method used in the study is cheap, easily manufactured and environmentally friendly
compared to the other microbial fuel cells. A dual chamber microbial fuel cell, divided by a ceramic
septum was used to separate anodic and cathodic compartments in the cell. Synthetic waste water was
used as a fuel with Saccharomyces cerevisea as a biocatalyst and methylene blue as a mediator in
anaerobic anodic chamber. Distilled water was used for aerobic cathodic chamber with platinum
electrode as a cathode. Five different electrodes (i) Expanded graphite coated titanium plate (ii)
Activated charcoal coated titanium plate (iii) Bare fluorine doped tin oxide glass (iv) Polyaniline
deposited fluorine doped tin oxideglass (v) Polyaniline – activated charcoal composite coated
fluorine doped tin oxide glass were used as the anode material at constant operating conditions. FT-
IR spectrum was used to characterize the polyaniline-activated charcoal composite. Open circuit
voltage, short circuit current and voltage through series of external resistances were measured.
Electrical performance of microbial fuel cells were characterized using open circuit voltage-time
curves, polarization curves, power curves, current-time curves and maximum power densities of each
microbial fuel cell. The highest maximum open circuit voltage of 967 mV was shown by Polyaniline-
activated charcoal composite coated fluorine doped tin oxide glass electrode. The highest maximum
power densities were recorded in both expanded graphite coated titanium plate and polyaniline –
activated charcoal composite coated fluorine doped tin oxide glass electrode which were 2.6810-3
mWm-3 and 2.6610-3 mWm-3 respectively. It is suggested that, polyaniline-activated charcoal
composite coated fluorine doped tin oxide glass is a promising anode material for microbial fuel
cells.
Keywords: Microbial Fuel Cell; polyaniline; Saccharomyces cerevisea; Fluorine doped tin oxide
glass
Description
Keywords
Environment Science, Ecology, Chemical Sciences, Microbial Fuel Cells