Synergistic advancements in sewage-driven microbial fuel cells: novel carbon nanotube cathodes and biomass-derived anodes for efficient renewable energy generation and wastewater treatment

Functionalized carbon electrocatalysts in energy conversion and storage applications: A review

Energy crises, along with environmental tampering, are currently a big topic on the global scene. The most promising strategy in the current research trend is the creation of ecologically pleasant renewable green alternative energy sources. Since adequate access to green, ecologically acceptable energy sources promotes industrialization and the well-being of human society. Hence, in this review, the most recent carbon electrocatalysts electrode materials prepared from porous activated carbon (PAC) in electrochemical energy conversion and storage systems due to its long life cycle, porosity and high surface area nature as well as low-cost nature have been clearly discussed. This review aims to demonstrate that the increasing interest in the synthesis of PAC is accompanied by extensive research into their application in supercapacitors, where they continue to be the preferred electrode material. Their challenges and current progress of PAC electrodes are also discussed. The systematic methods of modifying PAC from biomass as well as some commercially available carbon materials have been thoroughly summarized in this review as an alternate high-surface area electrode for the effective generation of energy in many energy conversion and storage devices. The critical assessment is also extends to evaluate its recent advancements, trends in research progress, and future prospects.

N-Doped Carbon Nanowire-Modified Macroporous Carbon Foam Microbial Fuel Cell Anode: Enrichment of Exoelectrogens and Enhancement of Extracellular Electron Transfer

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance is affected by the metabolic activity of bacteria and the extracellular electron transfer (EET) process. The deficiency of nanostructures on macroporous anode obstructs the enrichment of exoelectrogens and the EET. Herein, a N-doped carbon nanowire-modified macroporous carbon foam was prepared and served as an anode in MFCs. The anode has a hierarchical porous structure, which can solve the problem of biofilm blockage, ensure mass transport, favor exoelectrogen enrichment, and enhance the metabolic activity of bacteria. The microscopic morphology, spectroscopy, and electrochemical characterization of the anode confirm that carbon nanowires can penetrate biofilm, decrease charge resistance, and enhance long-distance electron transfer efficiency. In addition, pyrrolic N can effectively reduce the binding energy and electron transfer distance of bacterial outer membrane hemin. With this hierarchical anode, a maximum power density of 5.32 W/m3 was obtained, about 2.5-fold that of bare carbon cloth. The one-dimensional nanomaterial-modified macroporous anodes in this study are a promising strategy to improve the exoelectrogen enrichment and EET for MFCs.