Enhancement of microbial fuel cell efficiency by incorporation of graphene oxide and functionalized graphene oxide in sulfonated polyethersulfone membrane. (December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shabani, Mehri; Younesi, Habibollah; Pontié, Maxime; Rahimpour, Ahmad; Rahimnejad, Mostafa; Guo, Hanxiao; Szymczyk, Anthony
• Is Part Of: Renewable energy. Volume 179(2021)
• Page Start: 788
• Page End: 801
• Publication Date: 2021-12
• Subjects: Microbial fuel cell -- Functionalized GO -- Proton exchange membranes -- Electricity generation; Renewable energy sources -- Periodicals; Power resources -- Periodicals; Énergies renouvelables -- Périodiques; Ressources énergétiques -- Périodiques; 333.794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.07.080
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-1481

Abstract

Abstract: The present work examines, for the first time, the use of thiolated graphene oxide (TGO), in polyelectrolyte composite membranes as an effective approach to enhance the MFC performance. A new composite membrane based on a sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES) hybrid with GO, sulfonated GO (SGO), and TGO was fabricated and assessed in MFC. The blend membranes were characterized with various techniques. The sulfhydryl (-SH) and sulfonic (-SO3 H) groups enhanced the proton selectivity of the membrane and MFC performance. The MFC using the SPES/SGO1.8% composite membrane generated a power density of 66.4 mW/m 2 which was double that produced by MFC using Nafion117 membrane in batch mode which lasted for 8 days. The SPES/SGO membrane was more selective towards H + rather than other cations (K +, Na +, and Li + ). This was also confirmed by the results of proton conductivity analysis, as the SPES/SGO1.8% membranes showed a value of 1.42 mS/cm which was higher than Nafion117 (1.3 mS/cm), SPES/TGO1.8% (1.25 mS/cm), SPES/GO1.8% (0.56 mS/cm), and SPES (0.32 mS/cm). The higher COD removal and coulombic efficiency were obtained in MFC with SPES/SGO membranes. In conclusion, it is our view that the new SPES/SGO and SPES/TGO membranes can be applied favorably in dual-chamber MFCs meeting their needs. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Sulfonated polyethersulfone was prepared by loading thiolated GO and sulfonated GO. SPES/SGO composite membrane exhibits the highest proton conductivity. SPES/SGO composite membrane acts more proton selective than other cations. Thiolated GO (TGO) membranes achieve the second-highest proton conductivity. MFC equipped SPES/SGO membrane achieves higher power output compared to Nafion-117.