Effects and mechanisms of heterogeneous melanin/graphene composite materials on power generation performance of microbial fuel cells

DONG Qiqi; WU Yang; LONG Min; ZHENG Xiong; CHEN Yinguang

doi:10.13205/j.hjgc.202508011

Volume 43 Issue 8

Aug. 2025

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING > 2025 > 43(8): 129-136

DONG Qiqi, WU Yang, LONG Min, ZHENG Xiong, CHEN Yinguang. Effects and mechanisms of heterogeneous melanin/graphene composite materials on power generation performance of microbial fuel cells[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 129-136. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508011

Citation:

DONG Qiqi, WU Yang, LONG Min, ZHENG Xiong, CHEN Yinguang. Effects and mechanisms of heterogeneous melanin/graphene composite materials on power generation performance of microbial fuel cells[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 129-136. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508011

Citation:

DONG Qiqi, WU Yang, LONG Min, ZHENG Xiong, CHEN Yinguang. Effects and mechanisms of heterogeneous melanin/graphene composite materials on power generation performance of microbial fuel cells[J]. ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING , 2025, 43(8): 129-136. doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508011

PDF( 0 KB)

Effects and mechanisms of heterogeneous melanin/graphene composite materials on power generation performance of microbial fuel cells

doi: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202508011

DONG Qiqi¹,
WU Yang¹,
LONG Min¹,
ZHENG Xiong^{1,2
,
,},
CHEN Yinguang^1,2

1. State Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Green Resource Recycling, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China;
2. Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China

Received Date: 2025-03-24
Accepted Date: 2025-04-30
Rev Recd Date: 2025-04-15

Abstract

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells （MFCs）， as an emerging clean energy technology， are primarily limited by the efficiency of electron transfer at the cathode. Although redox-active substances such as melanin show potential in promoting electron transfer， the effects and mechanisms of melanin from different sources as cathode catalysts on MFC performance remain unclear. This study systematically investigated the catalytic performance of biological and chemical melanin/graphene composites in MFCs. The results showed that biological melanin exhibited superior dispersion stability compared to its chemical counterpart. Although the biological melanin/graphene composite had a relatively lower loading capacity， it demonstrated the highest C-N bond content and beneficial trace element enrichment， particularly Fe， on its surface. Performance evaluation under various carbon sources and temperature conditions revealed that MFCs with biological melanin/graphene composite materials as the cathode catalyst achieved optimal power generation and environmental adaptability. Using sodium acetate as the carbon source， the maximum output voltage reached （0.254±0.003） V， showing increases of 30.3% and 33.7% compared to unmodified graphene and chemical melanin/graphene composite materials， respectively. Mechanistic studies indicated that biological melanin/graphene composite materials significantly enhanced microbial cell viability and improved the relative reducing power and electron transfer levels within mixed microorganisms， leading to substantially improved MFC performance. This research not only provides new insights into developing efficient MFC cathode catalysts but also establishes a theoretical foundation for understanding key factors in electron transfer processes.
- melanin,
- microbial fuel cell,
- cathode catalyst,
- graphene,
- power generation performance

FullText(HTML)

References(30)

References

[1]	JIANG S T，LIU H Y，ZANG W X，et al. Bioanode boosts efficacy of chlorobenzenes-powered microbial fuel cell： Performance， kinetics， and mechanism [J]. Bioresource Technology，2024，405：130936.
[2]	WAN C Z，DUAN X F，HUANG Y. Molecular design of singleatom catalysts for oxygen reduction reaction[J]. Advanced Energy Materials，2020，10：1903815.
[3]	XIN S， SHEN J， LIU G， et al. Electricity generation and microbial community of single-chamber microbial fuel cells in response to Cu₂O nanoparticles/reduced graphene oxide as cathode catalyst[J]. Chemical Engineering Journal，2020，380： 122446.
[4]	GOWTHAMI P，JUNG H Y，J，SADHASIVAM T，et al. A comprehensive review on microbial fuel cell technologies： Processes，utilization，and advanced developments in electrodes and membranes[J]. Journal of Cleaner Production，2019，221： 598-621.
[5]	SOUMYADEEP B，MANASWINI B. From single-chamber to multi-anodic microbial fuel cells： a review[J]. Journal of Environmental Management，2024，355：120465.
[6]	YUAN H，HOU Y，ABU-REESH I M，et al. Oxygen reduction reaction catalysts used in microbial fuel cells for energy-efficient wastewater treatment：a review[J]. Materials Horizons，2016，3（5）：382-401.
[7]	唐新华，贾煜瑒，崔杨，等.铁硫氮共掺杂多孔碳阴极催化剂强化微生物燃料电池性能的研究[J].环境工程，2021，39（10）： 163-170. TANG X H，JIA Y Y，CUI Y，et al. Enhancement of microbial fuel cell performance by Fe-S-N Co-Doped porous carbon cathode catalyst[J]. Environmental Engineering，2021，39（10）： 163-170.
[8]	GOMES J， MATOS A， GMUREK M， et al. Ozone and photocatalytic processes for pathogens removal from water： a review[J]. Catalysts，2019，9：46.
[9]	LIU M H，XU，Q，MIAO Q Y，et al. Atomic Co-N₄ and Co nanoparticles confined in COF@ZIF-67 derived core-shell carbon frameworks： bifunctional non-precious metal catalysts toward the ORR and HER[J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry A， 2022，10：228-233.
[10]	WU B，MENG H B，CHEN X B，et al. Structural modulation of nanographenes enabled by defects，size and doping for oxygen reduction reaction[J]. Angewandte Chemie International Edition， 2025，64：e202415071.
[11]	HAN H，PARVEEN N，ANSARI S，et al. Electrochemically synthesized sulfur-doped graphene as a superior metal-free cathodic catalyst for the oxygen reduction reaction in microbial fuel cell [J]. RSC Advance，2016，6：103446-103454.
[12]	SONG W，YANG，H Y，LIU S，et al. Melanin：insights into structure， analysis， and biological activities for future development[J]. Journal of Materials Chemistry B，2023，11： 7528-7543.
[13]	郭娜，潘帅，赵倩玉，等.细菌黑色素在生物电化学领域的研究进展[J].表面技术，2019，48（7）：229-236. GUO N， PAN S， ZHAO Q Y， et al. Research progress of bacterial melanin in bioelectrochemistry[J]. Surface Technology， 2019，48（7）：229-236.
[14]	MANIRETHAN V， BALAKRISHNAN R M. Batch and continuous studies on the removal of heavy metals using biosynthesised melanin impregnated activated carbon [J]. Environmental Technology & Innovation，2020，20：101085.
[15]	JU K Y，LEE Y，LEE S，et al. Bioinspired polymerization of dopamine to generate melanin-like nanoparticles having an excellent free-radical-scavenging property [J]. BioMacromolecules，2011，12（3）：625-632.
[16]	鹿钦礼，李亮，刘金亮，等.微生物燃料电池的应用研究进展[J].环境工程，2019，37（8）：95-100. LU Q L，LI L，LIU J L，et al. Research progress in application of microbial fuel cells[J]. Environmental Engineering，2019，37（8）：95-100.
[17]	ZHANG Y W，GE J，WANG L，et al. Manageable N-doped graphene for high performance oxygen reduction reaction[J]. Scientific Reports，2013，3（1）：2771.
[18]	LOVLEY D R，PHILLIPS E J. Novel mode of microbial energy metabolism：organic carbon oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron or manganese[J]. Applied and Environmental Microbiology，1988，54（6）.
[19]	SAN K， BENNETT G N， BERRÍOS-RIVERA S J， et al. Metabolic engineering through cofactor manipulation and its effects on metabolic flux redistribution in escherichia coli[J]. Metabolic engineering，2002，4：182-192.
[20]	LI J，LI S，TANG Y，et al. Nitrogen-doped Fe/Fe₃C@graphitic layer/carbon nanotube hybrids derived from MOFs： efficient bifunctional electrocatalysts for ORR and OER[J]. Chemical Communications，2015，51（13）：2710-2713.
[21]	WANG Y， WANG Z， MA P， et al. Strong nanocomposite reinforcement effects in poly （vinyl alcohol） with melanin nanoparticles[J]. RSC Advances，2015，5：72691-72698.
[22]	MADHURIMA D，SHIVAM U，SIRSHENDU D. A facile method to estimate the effective membrane pore charge density through surface zeta potential measurement[J]. Journal of Membrane Science，2021，637：119655.
[23]	FENG C， CHAN P， HSING I M. Catalyzed microelectrode mediated by polypyrrole/Nafion （R） composite film for microfabricated fuel cell applications [J]. Electrochemistry Communications，2007（9）：89-93.
[24]	YANG M，PAN X，ZHANG N，et al. A facile one-step way to anchor noble metal （Au，Ag，Pd） nanoparticles on a reduced graphene oxide mat with catalytic activity for selective reduction of nitroaromatic compounds[J]. Cryst Eng Comm，2013，15：6819.
[25]	MHAMANE D，RAMADAN W，FAWZY M，et al. From graphite oxide to highly water dispersible functionalized graphene by single step plant extract-induced deoxygenation[J]. Green Chemistry， 2011（13）：1990-1996.
[26]	SANTORO C，SEROV A，GOKHALE R，et al. A family of FeN-C oxygen reduction electrocatalysts for microbial fuel cell （MFC）application：relationships between surface chemistry and performances[J]. Applied Catalysis B：Environmental，2017， 205：24-33.
[27]	闫荣，雷欣，慕玉洁，等.后续碳源强化ANAMMOX-MFC系统脱氮产电调控策略[J].环境工程，2021，39（9）：76-83. YAN R ，LEI X ，MU Y J ，et al. Control strategy of subsequent carbon source in ANAMMOX-MFC system for enhancement nitrogen removal ang power generation [J]. Environmental Engineering，2021，39（9）：76-83.
[28]	LI M，ZHOU M，TIAN X，et al. Microbial fuel cell （MFC） power performance improvement through enhanced microbial electrogenicity[J]. Biotechnology Advances， 2018， 36（4）： 1316-1327.
[29]	GENG B Y，CAO L Y，LI F，et al. Potential of Zymomonas mobilis as an electricity producer in ethanol production[J]. Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts，2020，36（13）： 1-11.
[30]	ANWAR A，ALIA S A，MOHAMMAD S M. Microbial approach towards anode biofilm engineering enhances extracellular electron transfer for bioenergy production[J]. Journal of Environmental Management，2024，370：122696.