Microbial Fuel Cell Technology and Its Research Progress

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are bioelectrochemical systems that convert the chemical energy of organic compounds or renewable energy into electrical or bioelectrical energy through microbial-catalyzed reactions on the anode. The core principle of the technology is that microorganisms at the anode release electrons during the oxidation of the substrate, and electrons pass through the external circuit to the cathode, where they undergo a reduction reaction with oxygen, and finally combine with hydrogen ions to form water. Microorganisms play the role of electron transport medium, which realizes the efficient conversion of substrate energy to electric energy.As a green energy technology, it can generate electricity while relying on microorganisms to degrade organic pollutants in sewage. However, the high cost and low conversion efficiency limit the industrial applications of MFC. This paper briefly describes the reaction mechanism of microbial fuel cells and reviews the research progress on two important factors that influence the performance of MFC. Finally, the future development of MFC is anticipated to provide some references for related research.