Multiwalled carbon nanotube/polyarcylonitrile composite as anode material for microbial fuel cells application.

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an electrochemical device that can directly convert the chemical energy stored in organic matter into electricity using microorganisms as a biocatalyst. The performance of multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)/polyarcylonitrile (PAN) composite modified carbon paper electrodes in two-chambered MFC was investigated. The electrocatalytic behaviors of the MWCNT/PAN composite anode were examined by using cyclic voltammetry. The MWCNT/PAN composite anode showed better electrochemical performance than that of PAN anode without MWCNT and the electricity generation of the MFC increased along with the increase of the MWCNT composite loading. The 5 wt% MWCNT/PAN composite anode has the highest electrochemical activity and its maximum power density is found to be 45 mW/m2 with acetate.