| Date | 18th, Sep 2021 |
|---|
Home > Press > Silver nanoparticles boost performance of microbial fuel cells
Abstract: Coating Shewanella bacteria with silver nanoparticles greatly boosts the performance of biofilm-based microbial fuel cells, researchers report. It achieves this effect by improving the transfer of electrons from the microbe to graphene electrodes in the fuel cells.
Washington, DC | Posted on September 17th, 2021
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) use bacteria to directly convert the chemical energy stored in organic matter to electricity by harvesting the energy generated through metabolism with electrodes. Since MFCs can use a wide range of organic fuels to create electricity, the technology is attractive for renewable power generation from biomass and wastewater treatment. Among the bacteria used to power these systems, Shewanella species are particularly well-suited for the role and have been extensively studied. However, despite considerable efforts to improve these systems, current Shewanella MFCs often suffer from low current and power densities largely limited by the inefficient transfer of electrons between the microbe and the anode. Here, Bocheng Cao and colleagues report a novel strategy for boosting the performance of Shewanella MFCs. Cao et al. found that when the bacteria are placed on a reduced graphene oxide/silver nanoparticle (rGO/Ag) anode, silver nanoparticles become associated with their cellular membranes, greatly enhancing their electron-transfer efficiency. According to the authors, the resulting MFCs have a maximum current density of 3.85 milliamperes per square centimeter, a power density of 6.6 watts per meter squared, and a coulombic efficiency of 81%, all of which are considerably higher than other MFCs reported to date. �The optimized electron extraction and high CE reported by Cao et al. showcases that knowledge of molecular mechanisms of bacterial electron transfer can aid in designing microbial electrochemical technologies,� write Erin Gaffney and Shelley Minteer in a related Perspective.
####
For more information, please click here
Contacts:Science Press Package TeamAmerican Association for the Advancement of Science/AAAS
Expert Contacts
Xiangfeng DuanUniversity of California, Los Angeles/California NanoSystems Institute
Yu HuangUniversity of California, Los Angeles/California NanoSystems Institute
Shelley MinteerUniversity of Utah
Copyright © American Association for the Advancement of Science
If you have a comment, please Contact us.
Issuers of news releases, not 7th Wave, Inc. or Nanotechnology Now, are solely responsible for the accuracy of the content.
Bookmark:
News and information
University of Illinois Chicago joins Brookhaven Lab's Quantum Center June 10th, 2022
Organic water splitters get a boost June 10th, 2022
2 Dimensional Materials
Bumps could smooth quantum investigations: Rice University models show unique properties of 2D materials stressed by contoured substrates June 10th, 2022
UCI scientists turn a hydrogen molecule into a quantum sensor: New technique enables precise measurement of electrostatic properties of materials April 22nd, 2022
Graphene crystals grow better under copper cover April 1st, 2022
Graphene gets enhanced by flashing: Rice process customizes one-, two- or three-element doping for applications March 31st, 2022
Possible Futures
Electron-phonon coupling assisted universal red luminescence of o-phenylenediamine-based CDs June 10th, 2022
Marching to the Cadence of Electronics: Innovation A new paper in Nature validates technology developed by John Bowers and collaborators June 10th, 2022
Small materials may be key to reducing cardiovascular disease deaths, researchers say June 10th, 2022
Decoding a key part of the cell, atom by atom June 10th, 2022
Discoveries
Electron-phonon coupling assisted universal red luminescence of o-phenylenediamine-based CDs June 10th, 2022
Marching to the Cadence of Electronics: Innovation A new paper in Nature validates technology developed by John Bowers and collaborators June 10th, 2022
Small materials may be key to reducing cardiovascular disease deaths, researchers say June 10th, 2022
Decoding a key part of the cell, atom by atom June 10th, 2022
Announcements
Organic water splitters get a boost June 10th, 2022
Interviews/Book Reviews/Essays/Reports/Podcasts/Journals/White papers/Posters
Decoding a key part of the cell, atom by atom June 10th, 2022
Organic water splitters get a boost June 10th, 2022
Energy
Organic water splitters get a boost June 10th, 2022
Engineering piezoelectricity and strain sensitivity in CdS to promote piezocatalytic hydrogen evolution May 13th, 2022
USTC found a pathway to high-quality ZnSe quantum wires April 8th, 2022
Automotive/Transportation
A sunlight-driven �self-healing� anti-corrosion coating May 27th, 2022
Scavenger nanoparticles could make fuel cell-powered vehicles a reality April 1st, 2022
Graphene gets enhanced by flashing: Rice process customizes one-, two- or three-element doping for applications March 31st, 2022
Re-jigged cathode recipe gives new hope to solid-state batteries for electric vehicles March 25th, 2022
Fuel Cells
Scavenger nanoparticles could make fuel cell-powered vehicles a reality April 1st, 2022
Graphene gets enhanced by flashing: Rice process customizes one-, two- or three-element doping for applications March 31st, 2022
Activating lattice oxygen in perovskite oxide to optimize fuel cell performance December 17th, 2021
