American researchers recently reported in the Journal of the American Chemical Society·Energy Communications that they have developed a new technology that can use paper to make electrodes for microbial fuel cells that can make microbial fuel cells cheaper than in the past. And efficient. Microbial fuel cells are devices that use microbes to generate electrical energy. An important application scenario is wastewater treatment. Microbes can remove electrical energy while also removing pollutants from water. However, the electrodes of microbial fuel cells currently used are usually made of metal or carbon felt, and have some disadvantages. For example, the metal is expensive and easily corroded. Although the carbon felt made of carbon fiber is cheaper, its pores are Easily blocked. Researchers at the University of Rochester in the United States reported that carbon felt can be replaced with paper and carbon paste. The carbon paste is made of a mixture of graphite and mineral oil. After the carbon paste is applied to the paper, the conductive polymer layer and the bacterial layer are pressed on the same as a sandwich to form an electrode of the microbial fuel cell. This carbon paste electrode costs less than carbon felt electrodes. The researchers explained that the microbes they use are "Shewanella MR-1", which can "engulf" toxic heavy metal ions in wastewater and release electrons in the process. Carbon paste can attract these electrons and then pass it through the wire to the other electrode, forming an electric current. Tests have shown that carbon paste electrodes are more efficient than carbon felt electrodes. The former has an average current output of 2.24 amps per square meter, while the latter has only 0.94 amps per square meter. The scientific community has been discussing the microbial fuel cell for a long time, but how to produce a microbial fuel cell cheaply and efficiently has always been a problem. The researchers said that this new technology is simple, low-cost, and more efficient, which will help promote the development and application of microbial fuel cells in the future. Single Screwdriver,Key Tool Screwdriver,Single D Screwdriver,Plastic Handle Screwdriver henan horn tools co.,ltd. , https://www.nbhorntoolsltd.com
U.S. New Technology: Electrodes for Microbial Fuel Cells Made of Paper