TY - JOUR
T1 - High-Performance, Totally Flexible, Tubular Microbial Fuel Cell
AU - Taghavi, Majid
AU - Greenman, John
AU - Beccai, Lucia
AU - Mattoli, Virgilio
AU - Mazzolai, Barbara
AU - Melhuish, Chris
AU - Ieropoulos, Ioannis Andrea
PY - 2014/11/1
Y1 - 2014/11/1
N2 - The current study addresses the development of a flexible microbial fuel cell (MFC) in a tubular configuration. Nafion tubing is employed as a one-compartment MFC and is used as the membrane and the main body of the system. We use an ultra-flexible carbon sleeve as electrode material for both the anode and cathode; the anode is placed inside the tubular membrane, and the cathode is wrapped on the outside of the membrane. We illustrate how, using both the membrane and the new electrodes, there is increase the power density of the system, which is shown to work successfully with human urine as the fuel. We also show how the covering of the outer surface, that is, the cathode, by means of a waterproof and breathable plaster strip, maintains the high output levels without the need for hydration.
AB - The current study addresses the development of a flexible microbial fuel cell (MFC) in a tubular configuration. Nafion tubing is employed as a one-compartment MFC and is used as the membrane and the main body of the system. We use an ultra-flexible carbon sleeve as electrode material for both the anode and cathode; the anode is placed inside the tubular membrane, and the cathode is wrapped on the outside of the membrane. We illustrate how, using both the membrane and the new electrodes, there is increase the power density of the system, which is shown to work successfully with human urine as the fuel. We also show how the covering of the outer surface, that is, the cathode, by means of a waterproof and breathable plaster strip, maintains the high output levels without the need for hydration.
KW - Carbon
KW - Carbon sleeve electrodes
KW - Flexible microbial fuel cells
KW - Tubular membranes
KW - Urine
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84938655068&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/celc.201402131
DO - 10.1002/celc.201402131
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
AN - SCOPUS:84938655068
VL - 1
SP - 1994
EP - 1999
JO - ChemElectroChem
JF - ChemElectroChem
SN - 2196-0216
IS - 11
ER -