Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged as renewable energy sources due to their ability to directly convert organic substrates into electrical energy. Although, issues with low power density, limited long-term stability, and higher operational costs have slowed large-scale integration and adoption. Fuel cell performance is mainly impacted by the bacterial interactions at the electrode interface and the associated electron transfer mechanisms, which are widely studied. This work focused on the synthetic design of a conductive polysaccharide-based (i.e., agar, alginate, pectin) nanocomposite material to increase productive interactions between the microbes and anode. More specifically, metal-carboxyl (Fe3+ or V5+) coordination chemistry was used to photo-initiate the polymerization of polyaniline (PANI) directly on the backbone of the biopolymer matrix, increasing the overall uniformity. Results have shown that when exposed to E. coli, the n-doped conducting polymer nanocomposite has enhanced current flow. Additionally, the electrode surface was modified via non-covalent linkages of organic fuels, such as glucose, with TiO2 nanoparticles to decrease bacteria-surface repulsions. Furthermore, the sugar-functionalized nanoparticle electrodes demonstrated an increased electric response with enhanced photochemical activity. This phenomenon was observed through decreased fluorescence intensity without a decrease in cell viability and increased open circuit potential in the presence of light. It is the ligand-metal charge transfer coupled with increased conductivity of the biomimetic bulk material that has resulted in an overall improved MFC system. Lastly, emphasis will be placed on exploiting the “blurred” disciplinary boundaries as a model for developing an active undergraduate research experience. This experience emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary problem-solving, robust experimental design, and the development of essential critical thinking skills.

Design of conductive biopolymeric nanocomposite anodes to enhance microbial fuel cell performance

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