Surface modification of carbon cloth anodes for microbial fuel cells using atmospheric-pressure plasma jet processed reduced graphene oxides

Abstract

In this study, we report on an easy, rapid, economical, and environmentally friendly method for surface modification of carbon cloth anodes applicable in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) by screen-printing reduced graphene oxide (rGO) followed by calcining using an atmospheric-pressure plasma jet (APPJ). Screen printing of rGO and APPJ treatment significantly increased the surface area of the effective materials for bacterial adhesion. The combination of screen printing of rGO and APPJ treatment also made the carbon cloth highly hydrophilic, which benefits the growth of bacteria on the surface of the carbon cloth. The rGO and APPJ-treated modified MFCs exhibited a maximum power density of 10.80 ± 0.19 mW m⁻², whereas that of the unmodified MFCs was 6.02 ± 0.01 mW m⁻². Both screen printing of rGO and APPJ treatment can be used for large-area surface modification, which is promising for manufacturing large-scale MFC stacks.