Electricity generation in microbial fuel cells: comparing nanocomposite film-coated and uncoated anodes

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of modified anodic materials in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Three metals—zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and aluminum (Al)—were tested as anodes, with copper plates serving as cathodes. For each anode material, the output voltage, current, power, current density, and power density were measured in both uncoated and nanocomposite film (NCF)–coated configurations. The NCF was synthesized by blending polyethylene oxide, sodium alginate, and potato starch with ZnO nanoparticles to create composite coating. A synthetic banana-peel waste medium was used as a substrate. In the uncoated systems, the iron–copper MFC achieved the highest performance, delivering a maximum voltage of 772 mV, current density of 192.31 mA m⁻2, and power density of 146.92 mW m⁻2. After applying the NCF coating, performance improved significantly: the zinc–copper MFC with NCF-coated zinc produced the best results, reaching a maximum voltage of 858 mV, current density of 230.77 mA m⁻2, and power density of 198 mW m⁻2. These findings clearly demonstrate that anode surface modification—particularly through NCF coatings substantially enhances power generation in MFCs. The study underscores the potential for improving MFC performance through strategic selection of low-cost anode materials and tailored surface engineering.