Power generation using adjustable Nafion/PTFE mixed binders in air-cathode microbial fuel cells

Xin Wang; Yujie Feng; Jia Liu; Xinxin Shi; He Lee; Nan Li; Nanqi Ren

doi:10.1016/j.bios.2010.06.026

Power generation using adjustable Nafion/PTFE mixed binders in air-cathode microbial fuel cells

Biosens Bioelectron. 2010 Oct 15;26(2):946-8. doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2010.06.026. Epub 2010 Jun 25.

Authors

Xin Wang¹, Yujie Feng, Jia Liu, Xinxin Shi, He Lee, Nan Li, Nanqi Ren

Affiliation

¹ State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China.

PMID: 20634052
DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2010.06.026

Abstract

Nafion, poly(tetrafluoroethylene) (PTFE) and polymers made of Nafion-PTFE mixture (Nafion and PTFE ratios of 1:2 and 2:1) were examined as catalyst binders in air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFC tests showed that the maximum power density (from 549 to 1060 mW/m2) increased with the increase of Nafion percentage in binders (from 0% to 100%). Multi-cycle tests (25 cycles) showed that the maximum voltages decreased by 4-6% with simultaneous increase in Coulombic efficiency in all MFCs using various binders (from 20% to 29% with Nafion binder; from 17% to 26% with other binders), indicating that adjustable Nafion/PTFE mixed polymers were applicable in MFCs as catalyst binders when considering both cost and performance of cathodes.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Air
Bioelectric Energy Sources / microbiology*
Electricity*
Electrodes*
Equipment Design
Equipment Failure Analysis
Fluorocarbon Polymers / chemistry*
Polytetrafluoroethylene / chemistry*

Substances

Fluorocarbon Polymers
perfluorosulfonic acid
Polytetrafluoroethylene