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Updated: Feb 8, 2026

Probing and Mapping Electrode Surfaces in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Published on: September 20, 2012
Steamed cake-derived 3D carbon foam with surface anchored carbon nanoparticles as freestanding anodes for
Haoran Yuan1, Ge Dong2, Denian Li1
1Guangzhou Institute of Energy Conversion, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China; Key Laboratory of Renewable Energy, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of New and Renewable Energy Research and Development, China.
Abstract:
Anode design is highly significant for microbial fuel cells, since it simultaneously serves as the scaffold for electroactive microorganisms and as a medium for electron migration. In this study, a stiff 3D carbon foam with surface anchored nitrogen-containing carbon nanoparticles was facilely constructed via in-situ polyaniline coating of carbonized steamed cake prior to the carbonization process. The resultant product was determined to be an excellent freestanding anode that enabled the microbial fuel cell to deliver a maximum power density of up to 1307 mW/m2, which significantly outperformed its non-coated counterpart, the widely used commercial carbon felt. Further investigations revealed that the overall performance enhancement was associated with the open porosity, enlarged electroactive surface, increased biocompatibility, and decreased electric resistance of the anode scaffold. This promising anode material would offer a green and economical option for fabricating high-performance microbial fuel cell-based devices towards various ends.
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