Performance of microbial fuel cells with and without Nafion solution as cathode binding agent

Area of Science:

• Electrochemistry
• Environmental Science
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are promising for wastewater treatment and energy generation.
• Binder materials are crucial for cathode catalyst performance in MFCs.
• Nafion is a common binder, but its effect on tubular MFC performance needs further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of tubular MFCs with and without Nafion binder for cathode catalyst preparation.
• To evaluate the impact of Nafion on MFC electrochemical characteristics, including current output, voltage, power, and internal resistance.

Main Methods:

• Tubular MFCs were constructed with and without Nafion binder.
• Electrochemical techniques including chronoamperometry, potentiodynamic polarization, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy were employed.
• MFC performance was monitored over time using an external resistor.

Main Results:

• The MFC without Nafion (water cell, WC) exhibited higher current output and maximum power density compared to the MFC with Nafion (Nafion cell, NC).
• The NC showed higher internal resistance, attributed to increased cathodic polarization resistance.
• Cathode impedance decreased with exposure time in both cells due to increased surface porosity, while the NC anode impedance changed over time.

Conclusions:

• Nafion solution as a binder for cathode catalyst preparation negatively impacts tubular MFC performance by increasing internal resistance.
• Optimizing binder selection is crucial for enhancing MFC efficiency in energy generation and wastewater treatment applications.