Carbon Nanotube Composite Electrode Coated with Polypyrrole for Microbial Fuel Cell Application

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical system that can convert biomass spontaneously into electricity through the metabolic activity of microorganisms. We constructed MFCs of polypyrrole (PPy) coated carbon nanotube (CNT) composite as an electrode material and Shewanella oneidensis as the biocatalyst to increase power density. The PPy-coated CNT were synthesized by the in-situ chemical polymerization of pyrrole on CNT, and the electrochemical properties and performance of the modified electrode as an anode in MFC were then investigated. Treatment with 0.1 wt% Ge-132 on the acid-treated MWNTs helped to form better PPy-MWNT composite. The PPy-CNT/CF anode showed a noteworthy 38% power production improvement when compared to plain CF anode. The PPy-CNT composite could be a very efficient and promising electrode material for electricity generation of MFC.