Microbial Fuel Cell as a Future Energy Source: A Review of Its Development, Design, Power Generation, and Voltage Reversal Control Mechanism

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology that use microorganisms to generate electrical energy from chemical energy. However, ultralow-power production and high-cost materials have become significant drawbacks in MFC development. Therefore, various methods have been proposed for increasing the output power of MFC. Among them, stacking multiple cells in a series has been suggested as the most promising method for generating high power in MFC. However, voltage reversal (VR) has become an issue that limits the electrical power generation in stacked MFC. Thus, this study investigates and discusses the actual cause of the voltage reversal phenomenon in a series-stacked MFC from the perspective of electron and proton transfer mechanisms. This paper also discusses the electronic control methods used to eliminate VR and challenges in MFC development. Furthermore, this review also briefly explains the evolution of MFC development stages and the factors influencing MFC performance. It is found that solving the VR issue in a series of stacked MFC is a significant factor in boosting MFC technology in the commercial world. In addition, reducing material and operational costs will promote future implementation of MFCs.

Keywords

• Electron and proton transfer mechanisms
• microbial fuel cell
• series-stacked
• substrate concentration
• voltage reversal