Designing, developing and using the anode of a microbial fuel cell by containing PDMS,carbon nanotubes and graphene

Abstract

In the last few years, micro/nano electromechanical systems are an area that has been rising very rapidly and attracting a lot of attention of researchers. Microbial fuel cells, which is also a subject covered by the MEMS/NEMS field, is also a very interesting field of study. The reason for this is the increase in energy consumption in the world with each passing day and the search for a renewable energy source has become a necessity. The anodes and cathodes of MFCs are intended to operate at both low cost and high efficiency. Graphene, carbon nanotubes and PDMS, an organic polymer, can be counted among the materials that are widely used in this field and are trying to be developed. In our own study, we used these materials as hybrid nanocomposites. In addition to the MFC anode electrode studies in the literature, we tried to obtain electrical conductivity with lower cost and higher efficiency. In order to achieve these goals, we designed a special pattern in the anode electrode, which will increase the electrode surface area in a way that the microbial flora can be used most effectively, ensure the efficient adhesion of the microbial flora, and to attract electrons with the highest capacity, and we have produced it by photolithography. In order to find the optimum electrode, PDMS/MWCNT/GNP hybrid nanocomposite samples were produced at different ratios. In addition, the effect of treating the produced anode electrodes with sulfuric acid on the electrical conductivity was investigated. As a result of our production, we analyzed the anode electrodes with a few characterization devices that are widely used in nanotechnology studies. As a result of the analyzes made, it was observed that the produced electrodes had a very successful electrical conductivity when compared with the examples in the literature. It has been observed that the treatment with sulfuric acid causes a very successful increase in electrical conductivity within a certain treatment time. As an important result, it has been observed that the electrical conductivity can vary greatly depending on the mixing ratios and the type of nanofiller used. As a result of this experimental study, it has been concluded that the electrodes produced at low cost and at certain rates have successful electrical conductivity compared to previous studies in the literature.