Incorporation of graphene oxide nanohybrids in polyvinyl alcohol-based cross-linked and poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) for bioenergy generation in dual-chamber microbial fuel cells

Electricity generation using microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology emphasises the development of new materials for separating the anode and cathode. This study reports for the first time the use of transparent nanocomposite membranes as separators in dual-chamber MFCs. Thin films of polyvinyl alcohol/poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid (FNC1) and thin-film nanocomposites of polyvinyl alcohol/poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid/graphene oxide (FNC2), polyvinyl alcohol/poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid)/sulfonated graphene oxide (FNC3), and polyvinyl alcohol/poly (4-styrenesulfonic acid) sulfonated graphene oxide decorated with silver nanoparticles (FNC4), and the nanocomposite of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide decorated by silver nanoparticles (FNC5) were successfully prepared and investigated in dual-chamber MFCs using acetate as fuel. The nanocomposite membranes presented low internal resistance values of 7.287 Ω (FNC2), 8.298 Ω (FNC4), and 1.29 Ω (FNC5) when compared with 65.07 Ω for CEM. The highest real-time power performance was recorded for FNC2 and FNC4, with values of 33.20 µW and 26.6 µW, respectively. Similarly, maximum currents of 350.20 µA and 252.58 µA were observed for FNC2 and FNC3, respectively. The positive effect of modified graphene oxide on membrane separator performance, combining sulfonic groups and nano silver nanoparticles with anti-biofouling capacity in one graphene oxide support, represents a new approach to improve MFC performance. The proposed use of transparent thin films is well-suited for applications requiring light transmission.