Effects of different catalysts on the cathode efficiency of continuous flow Microbial Fuel Cells.

This investigation is part of the EcoBot project, and the aim is to determine what influence the choice of the metal catalyst at the cathode has on the output of a microbial fuel cell (MFC). In particular we will compare the performance against cathodes with live algae as the bio-catalyst. In the past, there have been many investigations aimed at optimizing the anode of MFCs, but only a few into the efficiency of the cathode.

By using different metals like copper, cobalt or nickel and algae, we will try to find out what effects these metals have on the reduction of oxygen to water compared to a carbon fibre cathode open to the air and also with a continuous water flow. The continuous flow MFCs will be fed in parallel and for approximately one month different parameters like the current, voltage, power density and the internal resistance will be monitored.

We hope to find a catalyst which is almost as good as platinum but much cheaper, that could reduce the costs of MFCs without reducing the energy output.

The investigator, Markus Stoeckl, is a final year Bachelor's student from the University of Duisburg-Essen in Germany, who will be spending the next 4 months at BRL.