9,10-Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid disodium salt/epoxy graphite composite for anode in microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Properties such as electrical conductivity, low resistivity, chemicals and corrosion resistance are mostly found in carbon based materials. Epoxy resin is excellent for electrical insulation and can be used as a conductor with the addition of conductive filler. Combinations of carbon and epoxy show qualities of a conductive electrode, mechanically strong with design flexibility and thus makes them suitable as electrodes in microbial fuel cell (MFC). In this study, graphite-epoxy composites were fabricated with multi-walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) embedded in the matrix surface. 9,10 Anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid disodium salt/polypyrrole (PPy/AQDS) was used as mediator, covalently electrografted on electrode’s surface. Electrochemical stability of anodes during continuous operation were measured in air-cathode MFCs. It appears that maximum power in MFC could be increased up to 42% with surface modification using PPy/AQDS. Internal resistance (R int ) could be reduced up to 66% with the inclusion of MWCNT. These findings show that a one-day fabrication of a-ready-to-use conductive electrode is possible for graphite content between 70-80% (w/w).