Microbial fuel cell
First Claim
1. A microbial fuel cell equipped with a pair of electrodes and an external circuit electrically connecting a pair of said electrodes, wherein on a negative electrode that is one of said electrodes, 3-dimensionally structured agglomerates are spontaneously formed in a solution containing conductive fine particles and microorganisms with an extracellular electron transfer capability, said 3-dimensionally structured agglomerates being formed from said conductive fine particles and microorganisms by allowing said microorganisms to specifically adsorb said conductive fine particles;
- and said microorganisms are held by said conductive fine particles over a range of zone extending vertically away from a surface of said negative electrode, in a manner such that said conductive fine particles are distributed among said microorganisms; and
said conductive fine particles comprise α
-Fe2O3, α
-FeOOH, γ
-Fe2O3, ε
-Fe2O3 or Fe3O4 or ferric sulfide, and then said conductive fine particles transfer electrons from said microorganisms to said negative electrode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microbial fuel cell capable of increasing a current density without employing a mediator. The microbial fuel cell 1 includes a 3-dimensionally structured agglomerate formed from conductive fine particles 2 and microorganisms 3. In the agglomerate 4, the conductive fine particles 2 disperse among pieces of Shewanella 3 and the conductive fine particles 2 are coupled to one another to hold Shewanella 3, thus forming the 3-dimensional structure as a whole. Accordingly, with respect to Shewanella 3, conductive fine particles 2 hold Shewanella 3a on a surface of an electrode 103 and even Shewanella 3b positioned vertically away from the surface of the electrode 103. Hence, it becomes possible that more pieces of Shewanella 3 are allowed to transfer electrons.
5 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A microbial fuel cell equipped with a pair of electrodes and an external circuit electrically connecting a pair of said electrodes, wherein on a negative electrode that is one of said electrodes, 3-dimensionally structured agglomerates are spontaneously formed in a solution containing conductive fine particles and microorganisms with an extracellular electron transfer capability, said 3-dimensionally structured agglomerates being formed from said conductive fine particles and microorganisms by allowing said microorganisms to specifically adsorb said conductive fine particles;
- and said microorganisms are held by said conductive fine particles over a range of zone extending vertically away from a surface of said negative electrode, in a manner such that said conductive fine particles are distributed among said microorganisms; and
said conductive fine particles comprise α
-Fe2O3, α
-FeOOH, γ
-Fe2O3, ε
-Fe2O3 or Fe3O4 or ferric sulfide, and then said conductive fine particles transfer electrons from said microorganisms to said negative electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
- and said microorganisms are held by said conductive fine particles over a range of zone extending vertically away from a surface of said negative electrode, in a manner such that said conductive fine particles are distributed among said microorganisms; and
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10. A method for manufacturing a negative electrode of a pair of electrodes used in a microbial fuel cell that is equipped with said pair of electrodes and an external circuit electrically connected thereto, comprising:
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a step of preparing a solution for said negative electrode by mixing conductive fine particles and microorganisms with an extracellular electron transfer capability; a step of allowing said conductive fine particles to hold said microorganisms over a range of zone extending vertically away from a surface of said negative electrode, in a manner such that said conductive fine particles disperse among said microorganisms and are further coupled to one another to hold said microorganisms; and
;a step of causing 3-dimensionally structured agglomerates to be spontaneously formed by allowing said microorganisms to specifically adsorb said conductive fine particles. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification