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Cast and 3D printed ion exchange membranes for monolithic microbial fuel cell fabrication

Cast and 3D printed ion exchange membranes for monolithic microbial fuel cell fabrication
Cast and 3D printed ion exchange membranes for monolithic microbial fuel cell fabrication
We present novel solutions to a key challenge in microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology; greater power density through increased relative surface area of the ion exchange membrane that separates the anode and cathode electrodes. The first use of a 3D printed polymer and a cast latex membrane are compared toa conventionally used cation exchange membrane. These new techniques significantly expand the geometric versatility available to ion exchange membranes in MFCs, which may be instrumental in answering challenges in the design of MFCs including miniaturisation, cost and ease of fabrication. Under electrical load conditions selected for optimal power transfer, peak power production (mean 10batch feeds) was 11.39 mW (CEM), 10.51 mW (latex) and 0.92 mW (Tangoplus). Change in conductivity andpH of anolyte were correlated with MFC power production. Digital and environmental scanning electron microscopy show structural changes to and biological precipitation on membrane materials following long term use in an MFC. The cost of the novel membranes was lower than the conventional CEM. The efficacy of two novel membranes for ion exchange indicates that further characterisation of these ma-terials and their fabrication techniques, shows great potential to significantly increase the range and type of MFCs that can be produced.
Microbial fuel cell, 3D printing, Ion-exchange membrane, Oxygen-diffusion cathodes
0378-7753
91-99
Philamore, Hemma
d0a1cf2b-226d-4600-ae34-d220a1cc3767
Rossiter, Jonathan
64caa0df-19e0-40c8-ab69-7021de665c39
Walters, Peter
bd3c8d84-89e5-4100-bd86-e67fa7e9ffd3
Winfield, Jonathan
e81f4fad-1433-4c6a-9723-24a14f172896
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Philamore, Hemma
d0a1cf2b-226d-4600-ae34-d220a1cc3767
Rossiter, Jonathan
64caa0df-19e0-40c8-ab69-7021de665c39
Walters, Peter
bd3c8d84-89e5-4100-bd86-e67fa7e9ffd3
Winfield, Jonathan
e81f4fad-1433-4c6a-9723-24a14f172896
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13

Philamore, Hemma, Rossiter, Jonathan, Walters, Peter, Winfield, Jonathan and Ieropoulos, Ioannis (2015) Cast and 3D printed ion exchange membranes for monolithic microbial fuel cell fabrication. Journal of Power Sources, 289, 91-99. (doi:10.1016/j.jpowsour.2015.04.113).

Record type: Article

Abstract

We present novel solutions to a key challenge in microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology; greater power density through increased relative surface area of the ion exchange membrane that separates the anode and cathode electrodes. The first use of a 3D printed polymer and a cast latex membrane are compared toa conventionally used cation exchange membrane. These new techniques significantly expand the geometric versatility available to ion exchange membranes in MFCs, which may be instrumental in answering challenges in the design of MFCs including miniaturisation, cost and ease of fabrication. Under electrical load conditions selected for optimal power transfer, peak power production (mean 10batch feeds) was 11.39 mW (CEM), 10.51 mW (latex) and 0.92 mW (Tangoplus). Change in conductivity andpH of anolyte were correlated with MFC power production. Digital and environmental scanning electron microscopy show structural changes to and biological precipitation on membrane materials following long term use in an MFC. The cost of the novel membranes was lower than the conventional CEM. The efficacy of two novel membranes for ion exchange indicates that further characterisation of these ma-terials and their fabrication techniques, shows great potential to significantly increase the range and type of MFCs that can be produced.

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Published date: 1 September 2015
Keywords: Microbial fuel cell, 3D printing, Ion-exchange membrane, Oxygen-diffusion cathodes

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454590
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454590
ISSN: 0378-7753
PURE UUID: c9b3e438-f64b-435b-9424-290523794457
ORCID for Ioannis Ieropoulos: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5504

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Date deposited: 16 Feb 2022 17:48
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10

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Contributors

Author: Hemma Philamore
Author: Jonathan Rossiter
Author: Peter Walters
Author: Jonathan Winfield

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