Methods and apparatus for increasing biofilm formation and power output in microbial fuel cells
First Claim
1. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell comprising:
- a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure; and
a microbial biofilm grown on the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure,wherein the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure comprises;
a plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a first direction;
a plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a second direction; and
a plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a third direction,wherein the first, second, and third ordered carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material lacking any interior boundaries at the nodes, and wherein each of the plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements defines a non-perpendicular angle with at least one truss element selected from the group consisting of the plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements truss elements and the plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements truss elements.
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Abstract
A method and an apparatus is provided for increasing biofilm formation and power output in microbial fuel cells. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell has a three-dimensional and ordered structure. The anode material fills an entire anode compartment, and it is arranged to allow fluid flow within the anode compartment. The power output of microbial fuel cells is enhanced, primarily by increasing the formation and viability of electrogenic biofilms on the anodes of the microbial fuel cells. The anode material in a microbial fuel cell allows for the growth of a microbial biofilm to its natural thickness. In the instance of members of the Geobacteraceae family, the biofilm is able grow to a depth of about 40 microns.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell comprising:
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a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure; and a microbial biofilm grown on the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure, wherein the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure comprises; a plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a first direction; a plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a third direction, wherein the first, second, and third ordered carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material lacking any interior boundaries at the nodes, and wherein each of the plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements defines a non-perpendicular angle with at least one truss element selected from the group consisting of the plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements truss elements and the plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements truss elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An anode material in a microbial fuel cell comprising:
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a three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure; and a microbial biofilm grown on the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure, wherein the three-dimensional ordered open-cellular carbon, ceramic, or metallic microstructure comprises; a plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a first direction; a plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a second direction; and a plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements extending along a third direction, wherein the first, second, and third ordered carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements interpenetrate each other at a plurality of nodes to form a continuous material lacking any interior boundaries at the nodes, wherein the plurality of first carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements intersect the plurality of second carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements truss elements at the plurality of nodes to define parallel planes, and wherein the plurality of third carbon, ceramic, or metallic truss elements intersect with the parallel planes at non-perpendicular angles. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification