Developing 3D-printable cathode electrode for monolithically printed microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) employ microbial electroactive species to convert chemical energy stored in organic matter, into electricity. The properties of MFCs have made the technology attractive for bioenergy production. However, a challenge to the mass production of MFCs is the time-consuming assembly process, which could perhaps be overcome using additive manufacturing (AM) processes. AM or 3D-printing has played an increasingly important role in advancing MFC technology, by substituting essential structural components with 3D-printed parts. This was precisely the line of work in the EVOBLISS project, which investigated materials that can be extruded from the EVOBOT platform for a monolithically printed MFC. The development of such inexpensive, eco-friendly, printable electrode material is described below. The electrode in examination (PTFE-FREE-AC), is a cathode made of alginate and activated carbon, and was tested against an off-the-shelf sintered carbon (AC-BLOCK) and a widely used activated carbon electrode (PTFE-AC). The results showed that the MFCs using PTFE-FREE-AC cathodes performed better compared to the PTFE-AC or AC-BLOCK, producing maximum power levels of 286 μW, 98 μW and 85 μW, respectively. In conclusion, this experiment demonstrated the development of an air-dried, extrudable (3D-printed) electrode material successfully incorporated in an MFC system and acting as a cathode electrode.

3D-printing, Additive manufacturing, Air-breathing cathode, Alginate, Electrode materials, EVOBOT, MFC

10.3390/molecules25163635

1420-3049

Theodosiou, Pavlina

402c5cd6-b491-45d8-abfc-68221f1ef9f5

Greenman, John

eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16

Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13

August 2020

Theodosiou, Pavlina

402c5cd6-b491-45d8-abfc-68221f1ef9f5

Greenman, John

eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16

Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13

Theodosiou, Pavlina, Greenman, John and Ieropoulos, Ioannis A. (2020) Developing 3D-printable cathode electrode for monolithically printed microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Molecules, 25 (16), [3635]. (doi:10.3390/molecules25163635).

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Published date: August 2020

Additional Information: Funding Information: This research was funded by the European Commission through the FP7-ICT, grant number 6611640 (EVOBLISS). The authors would like to thank Kasper Stoy and Assistant Andres Faina (ITU, Copenhagen) for creating EVOBOT and for their invaluable technical and know-how support during the operation of EVOBOT. Special thanks also to Andres for assisting with the alginate extrusion during his knowledge exchange visit to the Bristol Robotics Laboratory.

Keywords: 3D-printing, Additive manufacturing, Air-breathing cathode, Alginate, Electrode materials, EVOBOT, MFC