Ultrasonic Spray Coating to Optimize Performance of Bio-Electrochemical Systems

Giacomo Spisni; Giulia Massaglia; Fabrizio C Pirri; Stefano Bianco; Marzia Quaglio

doi:10.3390/nano13222926

Ultrasonic Spray Coating to Optimize Performance of Bio-Electrochemical Systems

Nanomaterials (Basel). 2023 Nov 10;13(22):2926. doi: 10.3390/nano13222926.

Authors

Giacomo Spisni^{1

2}, Giulia Massaglia^{1

2}, Fabrizio C Pirri^{1

2}, Stefano Bianco¹, Marzia Quaglio^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Applied Science and Technology, Politecnico di Torino, 10129 Turin, Italy.
² Centre for Sustainable Future Technologies @ PoliTo, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 10146 Turin, Italy.

Abstract

This work investigates the optimization of carbon-based electrodes employed in bio-electrochemical systems (BES) through the deposition of nanostructured layers of poly(3,4-ethylene-dioxy-thiophene) poly(styrene-sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) on commercial carbon paper electrodes via ultrasonic spray coating (USC). This innovative application of USC demonstrated that uniform and controlled depositions of PEDOT:PSS can be successfully performed on carbon-based electrodes. To this end, the morphology and spatial uniformity of depositions were verified via scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy. Electrochemical characterizations of fabricated electrodes demonstrated a more than two-fold increase in the electrochemical active surface area with respect to bare carbon paper. A lab-scale experiment on BES was performed, selecting microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as the reference devices. Devices featuring USC-deposited PEDOT:PSS electrodes showed a three-fold-higher energy recovery with respect to control cells, reaching a maximum value of (13 ± 2) J·m^-3. Furthermore, the amount of PEDOT:PSS required to optimize MFCs' performance is in line with values reported in the literature for other deposition methods. In conclusion, this work demonstrates that USC is a promising technique for application in BES.

Keywords: anode electrode; bioelectrochemical devices; intrinsically conductive polymer; nanostructured layer; ultrasonic spray coating.

Grants and funding

This publication is part of the project NODES, which has received funding from the MUR—M4C2 1.5 of PNRR funded by the European Union, Next Generation EU (grant agreement no. ECS00000036).