Chen, Xuepeng, et al. Journal of Power Sources 480 (2020): 228789.
Challenge: Low-efficiency microbial fuel cell (MFC) suffers from bacterial detachment and insufficient biofilm growth on untreated carbon anodes.
Solution: Polyquaternium-11 (PQ-11) was engineered as a key component in a β-cyclodextrin composite coating for carbon cloth anodes. The cationic polymer enhanced surface biocompatibility for accelerated electroactive biofilm formation, improved wettability and roughness for microbial colonization,and synergized with β-CD to create charge-storing microenvironments.
Anode Modification Protocol: Pre-treated carbon cloth (2x2 cm) with acetone/ethanol, Immersed in β-CD solution (400mg/100mL H2O, 3h), coated with PQ-11 solution (20mL/100mL H2O, 3h), and dried at 60°C to form CC-CD-PQ-11 composite.
Key Results:
· Power Output: CC-CD-PQ-11 achieved 1,754 mW/m2--5.2× higher than unmodified carbon cloth (340 mW/m2) and 1.4× higher than β-CD alone (1,270 mW/m2).
· Capacitance: The composite anode stored 6.54 C/m2 during a 5-minute pause, indicating enhanced charge buffering.
· Biofilm Formation: Microscopy and biomass assays showed denser, more electroactive biofilm on CC-CD-PQ-11, attributable to improved surface properties.
Musa, Osama M., et al. Polymers for personal care and cosmetics. American Chemical Society, 2013. 233-284.