Self sustainable cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cells

EPSRC Grant No: CAF EP-I004653/1

Project Aims

• Further research and development of the cathode electrode in Microbial Fuel Cell to improve the overall MFC performance.
• Optimisation of the running conditions for efficient oxygenation at the cathode electrode with minimum energy requirements.
• Testing of individual MFC designs, different electrode materials with the use of algal and photosynthetic bacteria species.

Project Objectives

• To produce a self sustainable MFC based on algal cathode in order to improve overall MFC performance for stacking.
• Light driven MFC cathodes incorporated in MFC stacks produce excess algal mass that can be utilised as fuel in the anode.
• Chemical catalysts in the cathodic side as a metric for comparison. Explore new electrode, electrode treatment, electrode coating and wiring materials and their potential for use in our set up.

Expected Outcome or Outcome/Project Goal

• Development of more sustainable MFC stack system for the use in BRL’s autonomous robots.

Page last updated 26 October 2012