Plant microbial fuel cells: A self-sustaining bioelectrochemical technology addressing sustainable development goals...

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are regarded as an eco-friendly processes for bioelectricity generation and simultaneously treating wastewater. Nonetheless, MFCs have a significant limitation, constant supply of organics needed for microbial oxidation. In this context, plant microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) play an essential role in addressing this problem. Root exudates containing organic acids and sugars act as continuous electron donors that are metabolized by electrogenic microbes such as Geobacter to drive extracellular electron transfer, while nitrogen-transforming taxa such as Nitrosomonas link substrate oxidation with nitrogen cycling. The present review explores the multiple functions of PMFCs in the concurrent production of energy along with environmental restoration. It outlines the fundamental principles of PMFCs, emphasizing plant selection, microbial diversity, and electrode design as key factors affecting performance. The review also discussed about plant-microbe-electrode interactions in bioelectrogenesis, highlighting their potential in wastewater treatment, soil restoration, and precision agriculture. Furthermore, the review evaluates scalability challenges, including electrochemical limitations, design constraints, and field-level performance in pilot studies. By integrating renewable energy generation with ecosystem services, PMFCs align strongly with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs), particularly in clean energy, water purification, sustainable agriculture, and climate action. Future advancements in materials science, modular designs, and plant-microbe interactions are essential for translating PMFCs from laboratory prototypes into scalable, multifunctional systems for sustainable development.