Flame synthesis of carbon nanostructures on stainless steel anodes for use in microbial fuel cells

摘要: Abstract Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising alternative energy technology, but suffer from low power densities which hinder their practical applicability. In order to improve anodic density, we deposited carbon nanostructures (CNSs) on an otherwise plain stainless steel mesh (SS-M) anode. Using flame synthesis method that did not require pretreatment of SS-M substrates, were able produce these novel CNS-enhanced (CNS-M) anodes quickly (in matter minutes) and inexpensively, without the added costs chemical pretreatments. During fed batch experiments with biomass anaerobic digesters in single-chamber MFCs, median (based projected surface area) 2.9 mW m −2 187 mW m for MFCs CNS-M anodes, respectively. The addition CNSs anode via deposition therefore resulted 60-fold increase production. combination metallic current collectors holds considerable promise production MFCs.